BIS QCO for Furniture: General Purpose Chairs & Stools Certification

Furniture: General Purpose Chairs & Stools Certification

This is to inform you that the Government of India has released the Furniture (Quality Control) Order 2025 by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016 (11 of 2016).

This order was issued on February 13, 2025. It will apply to all existing licenses, new applications, companies, distributors, and furniture exporters twelve months after the publication date of this notification. The Department issued this mandate for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The following Indian Standards must comply with the QCO's requirements:

• IS 17631:2022-Work chairs
• IS 17632:2022 General-purpose chairs and stools 
• IS 17633:2022-Tables and desks 
• IS 17634:2022- Storage units 
• IS 17635:2022 Beds 
• 17636:2022 Bunk beds

Compliance Requirements

The Indian Standard: Furniture (2025) shall comply with the relevant Indian Standard outlined in the Quality Control Order.

Standard Mark: Goods mentioned in the QCO must carry the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark of conformity, issued under a license obtained according to Scheme I of Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

Applicability: 

This directive applies to all importers, manufacturers, and sellers in the Indian market.

Exemptions

1. Exports: This order does not apply to furniture produced exclusively for export.

2. Micro and Small Businesses (MSEs): For 18 months following the date of this notification, micro and small businesses—as defined by clauses (h) and (m) of Section 2 of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006—are excluded.

3. Enterprises registered on the Ministry of MSME's Udyam Portal with:  

Investment in plant and machinery not exceeding ₹25 lakh and turnover not exceeding ₹2 crore in the last financial year (authenticated by a Chartered Accountant) shall be permanently exempt from this order.

Research & Development (R&D):

Manufacturers may import up to 500 kg per year for R&D activities, subject to the following conditions:

• The goods cannot be marketed.
• Upon usage, they must be disposed of as scrap.
• They must be maintained and reported to the Central Government upon request.

Pre-existing Stock

Stock produced or imported before the enforcement of this order can be marketed for six months under the following conditions:

• The manufacturer is BIS-certified or has applied for certification before enforcement.
• BIS has been informed about the stock on hand.

Timeline of Implementation

The Furniture (Quality Control) Order 2025 will take effect immediately following its publication in the Official Gazette Authority for Regulation. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will serve as the certification and enforcement agency under this order.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Non-compliance with this order will incur penalties as outlined in the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.