BIS Certification for Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation)

The Ministry of Heavy Industry (MHI), Government of India, recently introduced a Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024. This order will come into force on August 28, 2025.

These new regulations aim to align the Indian Safety Standards with global norms; hence, these rules, which apply to machinery and electrical equipment manufactured or imported into India, seem very stringent.

These new rules are applicable to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). These are businesses that are defined by their investment and turnover levels. 

Contribution of MSMEs -

• The manufacturing sector is called the backbone of the Indian economy, of which the MSMEs account for approximately 11 crore jobs and contribute around 27% of India’s GDP. 
• The Indian economy consists of  6.4 crore MSMEs, of which 1.5 crore are registered on the Udyam portal.
• The MSMEs are the country's second-largest employer after agriculture, employing about 23% of the Indian workforce,  generating 45.03% of the nation's overall exports and 38.4% of its industrial output. 

It is anticipated that new rules will have an extensive and comprehensive impact on 90 percent of approximately 1,50,000 manufacturers of the MSME industry. Businesses that have limited resources are concerned about the one-year deadline. Let’s go through the important points under the new safety norms.

Key points of Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety norms

• The new regulations have established three tiers of strict safety standards for electrical and mechanical equipment manufactured or imported into India.
• These regulations apply to both machinery and their subassemblies.
• The manufacturers are obligated to comply with these standards put forward by the Bureau of Indian Standards under Scheme X Certification.
• Over 50,000 different types of machinery are covered by the legislation, including important industrial equipment that falls within 463 tariff lines or product categories, such as pumps, compressors, centrifuges, cranes, transformers, and switchgear.

The import and export data of FY 2024 highlights the following points: -

• India’s imports in these tariff lines amounted to $25 billion, of 39.1% of the value coming from China.  
• Machinery worth $17.7 billion was exported in the same period.

Definitions -

To ensure clarity and consistency among stakeholders, the Order contains essential definitions pertaining to safety standards, risk assessments, and conformance laws. 

• The meaning of the term “Act” is the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016)
• The meaning of “Conformity Assessment Regulations” is the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
• The meaning of "machinery, “residual risk”, "risk,” and “risk assessment” is as assigned according to IS  16819:2018/ISO 12100:2010, respectively;
• The meaning of ”safety” is as assigned to it in ISO/TS 37151:2015(en);
• The meaning of “schedule” means a schedule annexed to this order.

Conformity To Standards And Essential Requirements:-

According to the Schedules, every machine and piece of electrical equipment on the list needs to meet Indian Standards.

• Type A Standards  -  IS 16819:2018/ISO 12100:2010 General safety principles for design and risk reduction.
• Type B Standards -  General safety guidelines that cover particular safety issues that apply to different types of machinery.
• Type C Standards  -  Comprehensive safety specifications for particular machines or groups.

The present one-year compliance period seems very short, particularly for the MSMEs that lack the financial and technological means to meet the rigorous safety requirements. A more practical and fair mandate would be to extend the deadline to give MSMEs more time to adjust.  

The Details Of Applicability Of Regulations:-

The First Schedule lists a variety of devices and electrical equipment that are covered by the order. Nevertheless, it excludes products that are currently governed by various orders issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Construction equipment governed by the CMVR Rule 1989 and domestically manufactured commodities for export are exempted from this Order.

The first Schedule covers Electrical and Mechanical Equipment -

A wide range of equipment is listed in the order, such as 

• Material treatment machines, compressors, and pumps, 
• Equipment used in mining, building, and earthmoving.
• Switchgear, transformers, and electrical machinery.

In order to make it clear which items are affected, a thorough list of machinery and the HS codes that belong to them is furnished.

Schedules Two and Three: Safety Requirements

Type B Standards are described in the Second Schedule, with an emphasis on general safety features that apply to various kinds of machinery.

Type C Standards, which include particular safety criteria for certain machines or groups, will be covered in full in the Third Schedule.

To view the list of electrical and mechanical equipment covered by the Second and Third Schedules.

The schedules will be updated by the Ministry of Heavy Industries to keep it relevant and applicable

Important Products in the Notification -

1. Pumps -

The following HS codes apply to all kinds of pumps used for handling liquids: 841340, 841350, 841360, 841370, 841381, 841382, 841391, and 841392.

1. Compressors -

Relevant HS codes for various kinds of compressors include 841430, 841440, 841480, and others. It is crucial to adhere to IS 12258:1987 and IS 17093:2019.

1. Centrifuges and Filtering Equipment -

HS codes 842111 through 842199 apply to all equipment used for filtering or purifying liquids and gasses.

1. Cranes -

Various cranes with HS codes ranging from 842611 to 84269990 fall under this category. It is required to adhere to IS 3177:2020 and IS 4573:2020. 

1. Construction Machinery -

IS 17055 (Parts 7, 8, and 12): 2020 specifies the safety requirements for a variety of construction machinery, which are categorized under HS codes ranging from 8429 to 843149.

1. Textile Machinery -

IS 17361 specifies the safety requirements for weaving and embroidery machines, which are classified under HS codes 8446 and 84479020, respectively.

1. Machine Tools -

In accordance with IS 17277 and associated standards, all kinds of metal cutting machines are classified under HS codes 8456 to 846691.

1. Transformers and Generators -

In accordance with IS/IEC standards, a variety of transformers and diesel generators are described under HS codes 8502 and 8503. 

1. Power Semiconductor Converters - 

IS 16539-1-1 specifies the specifications for all kinds of power semiconductor converters, which are classified under HS code 850440.

1. Switchgear and Control Gear -

By IS/IEC 61439 regulations, equipment that operates at both low and high voltages is classified under HS codes 8536 and 8535.  It is of utmost importance to contact a group of technical experts who can help firms apply these standards.

Often the MSMEs lack the knowledge and awareness necessary to handle such complicated rules, and many companies will find it difficult to comply with standards if they do not have access to qualified advisers. 

The industry groups and compliance sector can play a significant role in training the MSMEs by holding training sessions and negotiating the bulk certification agreements, besides offering technical advice.

These organizations are in a unique market position to close the gap between industry readiness and governmental regulations, giving small businesses a much smoother transition. 

Connect with ERCS:

To set the right manufacturing practices for the safety of consumers’ right and the environment, it is essential to implement BIS Scheme X certification on Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety in India to follow the quality parameters and standards as per the specified Ministry’s gazette.

ERCS Pvt Ltd provides quality services for faster completion of certification. Investing in our services means convenience coupled with reduced operational errors, which will go a long way in boosting your position in the market.

Contact us at +91 9076611770/9076611766 or info@elitasrcs.com if you have any questions concerning BIS certification, product testing, compliance, auditing, and so on.