ISI mark, or the Indian Standards Institute is a very important industry standard in India. This mark confirms that the certified products conforms to the government acknowledged Indian Standards and is developed as per the standards of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Many of our everyday electrical appliances and kitchen accessories and appliances are ISI certified and is considered a mandate in India.

The Product Certification Scheme of BIS aims at providing third-party guarantee of quality, safety and reliability of products to the ultimate customer.

Voluntary Certification :- Any manufacturer who feels confident enough that his product has the ability to meet the BIS standard can apply for product certification

Mandatory Certification :- Which is also known as Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS).  While product certification is otherwise voluntary, the Government of India, on considerations of public health and safety, security, infrastructure requirements and mass consumption has enforced mandatory certification on various products through Orders issued from time to time under various Acts. These include gas valves and cylinders and infant food. Manufacturers of such products can’t apply for ISI mark under the voluntary scheme.

Under separate arrangements with Statutory agencies, some products have been placed under special certification schemes of lot or batch inspection carried out by BIS Inspecting officers. A majority of gas cylinders, regulators and valves are certified through such schemes.

There are 16 broad categories, including textiles, packaged water, food, automobile components, plastic products and electronics, for which BIS has laid down standards. If anyone wants to add a new category to the current list, they can apply for it.

There are 19,000 standards formulated for products across the 16 categories. It covers  many areas with such meticulous detail that there actually shouldn’t be any substandard products.

A. Fee structure for new application

(i) Application fee for grant of registration –  Rs. 1,000/-

(ii) Processing fee of  Rs.  25,000/- (including one test report).

For additional test report included with the application, additional processing fee of Rs. 10,000/- per test report will be charged.

(iii) Annual Registration Fee Rs. 1,000/- X 2 (for two years validity) = Rs.  2,000/-

Total = Rs.  28,000/- + applicable service tax(for one test report).

B. Fee structure for Inclusion

Inclusion Charges  – Rs. 15,000/- (including one test report).

For additional test report included with the inclusion, additional processing fee of Rs. 10,000/- per test report will be charged.

Total = Rs. 15,000/- + applicable service tax(for one test report).

C. Fee structure for Renewal

Application Fee  – Rs. 1,000/-

Annual Registration Fee –  Rs. 1,000/- X 2 (for two years validity) = Rs. 2,000/- Annual Processing fee Rs. 25,000/-

Total = Rs. 28,000/- + applicable service tax.

Mode of Fee Payment : Demand Draft (DD) or NEFT ( online Banking)

A.  Domestic Manufacturers Certification Scheme – The applicant has the option to choose any of the following two procedures for grant of BIS licence:

1. Normal Procedure The applicant is required to submit the filled in application along with required documents and requisite fee to the Branch Office under whose jurisdiction the manufacturing unit is located. Subsequently, after recording of the application, a preliminary factory evaluation is carried out by BIS officer to ascertain the capability of the applicant/manufacturer to produce goods according to the relevant Indian Standard and to verify the availability of complete testing facility and competent technical personnel. Samples are tested in the factory and also drawn for independent testing. Grant of licence is considered by BIS provided the samples pass during independent testing, preliminary evaluation is satisfactory and the applicant agrees to operate the defined Scheme of Testing & Inspection and pay the prescribed marking fee. By this procedure the licence is expected to be granted within 4 months of recording of application by BIS and 6 months in case of all India first licence for a product.
2. Simplified Procedure – In this procedure, the applicant is required to submit test report(s) from specified laboratories along with the application. Grant of licence is considered provided the verification visit is found to be satisfactory and the applicant agrees to implement the defined scheme of testing and inspection and pay the prescribed marking fee. Sample(s) is (are) drawn during the verification visit for independent testing, but the conformity of this sample does not form a pre-condition for grant of licence. However, the test result is used for review purpose. 

B. Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme – Overseas applicants/foreign manufacturers are granted licence for the use of ISI mark under separately designed scheme within 6 months period. 

C. ECO Mark Scheme – Besides the normal product certification scheme, BIS also grants licences to environment friendly products under a special scheme and awards the ECO MARK to such products. These products should conform to additional requirements specified in the Indian Standards to qualify. The procedure for grant of licence is same as that of Domestic Manufacturers.