BIS (ISI) Certification for Foreign Manufacturers
Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) is a Scheme prevailing by the Bureau of Indian Standards under Scheme-I of Schedule-II for foreign manufacturers since the year of 2000, This scheme is applicable for overseas manufacturers to use the standard mark, which is also known as ISI Mark, to sell their products in India. The ISI Certificate is acknowledged to all the Foreign Manufacturers who manufactures some listed products, for using Standard Mark on items that passes as per Indian Standard. The Certificate is provided by Foreign Manufacturers Certification Department (FMCD) which is located at Bureau of Indian Standard (Head office), New Delhi office. The product which comply the requirement of the applicable Indian Standard can get the BIS Certificate. It is also necessary for the foreign applicant to appoint an Authorized Indian representative (AIR) who must be Indian resident.
Who can apply for License under FMCS?
Following requirement should be fulfilled by foreign applicants:
- Manufacturing unit must be located outside of India.
- Make sure that all products are conforming requirement of the applicable Indian Standards Specification.
- All foreign manufacturers will be considered as ‘Large Scale’ as per BIS FMCS norms.
- The applicant shall confirm readiness for the factory inspection and have to fulfill the formalities, like availability of English translator, arrangement of transport in the foreign country, etc. for the officer ease, so that visit could take place at the earliest.
- At the factory premises, all manufacturing machinery and testing facilities as per requirement of ISS Should be available.
- The applicant (Manufacturer) must accept the SCHME OF TESTING (SIT) and Annual marking fee.
- Quality Control Personnel (QCI) must be technically qualified and able to perform the testing as per requirement of applicable Indian Standard.
- It is the applicant/Manufacturer Responsibility for timely and safe deposition of sample sealed by BIS officer to the designated lab and remittance of testing charges has to be paid by applicant/ Manufacturer.
- BIS payments are to be made in equivalent USD by applicants (Foreign manufacturer only). SAARC Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) applicants can do the payment either in Indian Rupees with GST (as applicable) or in equivalent USD.
- Foreign applicant / Manufacturer must be nominating an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR).
- Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of USD 10,000, having Branch office in India and must be RBI approved required to be furnished just after the grant of license to the applicant.
- Separate application is required to be submitted for each product/Indian Standard and for each factory address.
Note: BIS license is granted initially for one year and up to two years.
Mandatory Product List for BIS (ISI) Certification for Foreign Manufacturers
Documents required for ISI Certification under FMCS
Following documents required to submit:
- Application form with required information (Application form)
- Manufacturing Unit / Factory Registration documents (Copy of Original certificate license and its English translated copy) for address proof.
- In-house test report
- Raw material details and its test certificate.
- Process flow chat of manufacturing process of the product.
- Testing equipment details available in factory lab along with valid calibration certificate.
- Quality control In-charge (QCI) details.
- Plant Layout
- Product drawing (If required)
- Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) details.
Process of Grant of License under FMCS
Following steps are involved under this process:
1. Submission of application
a) Prepare all required documents.
b) Submission of application along with all required documents.
c) BIS will allot the Acknowledgment/Application no.
d) BIS officials will verify the documents.
2. Query Raised by BIS (If any)
a) In case, any document (like test equipment, incomplete test report or any other requirement is missing or Non-compliance), BIS will communicate through email with applicant
b) Applicant has to be resolved BIS query with in limited period of time.
3. Factory Inspection (Audit)
a) Remittance of Inspection (Audit fee)
b) Nomination of Inspecting officer by BIS
c) With a mutual consent between BIS officer and applicant inspection date will be finalized
d) BIS Officer will verify the manufacturing process, testing facilities and also ask to perform some test in your in-house laboratory.
e) BIS officer will pick the random sample from the lot and seal it for testing in BIS approved Lab.
4. Sample testing –
a) Sealed sample has to send in BIS recognized lab.
b) Testing Charges will be paid by applicant.
c) BIS receive the test report.
5. Grant of License –
a) Intimation by BIS to pay marking fee and License fee
b) Letter of Grant of license issued by BIS.
6. Performance Bank Guarantee, Indemnity & Agreement-
a) Agreement and Indemnity Bond signed by Authorized Indian Representative (AIR)
b) Performance Bank Guarantee(PBG) of USD 10,000 to be submitted by applicant
Note: Performance Bank guarantee (PBG) of USD 10,000 from any bank, having RBI approved branch in India would be required to be furnished immediately after grant of license.
How to nominate Authorized Indian Representative?
The applicant (Foreign Manufacturer) shall nominate Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) for its operation of BIS license. For nominating an AIR, the applicant shall ensure the following points:
- Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) shall be an Indian resident.
- The nominated AIR is representative of one manufacturing firm only and cannot represent other foreign manufacturer(s) as AIR under the BIS Conformity Assessment schemes.
- AIR shall not have any conflict of interest with respect to their role as AIR with testing of sample in third party laboratories.
- AIR must be graduated by qualification and be able to understand the provisions of BIS Act, 2016 and rules, regulations framed there under and the implications thereof.
- AIR shall declare his consent to be responsible for compliance of the BIS Act, Rules, Regulations and Terms & Conditions as written in the BIS License, Agreement, Undertaking and indemnity Bond executed on behalf of the foreign manufacturer in connection with grant and operation of BIS license.
- In case of change of the AIR or address, the manufacturer shall be required to inform BIS in advance.
Timeline for BIS License
The General time taken for Grant of License is approximately 6 months from the date receipt of complete application and its recording. It may also vary in some reasons like delay in queries response by applicant, Transportation of sample, remittance of fee, etc.
How to renew the BIS License under FMCS?
BIS license can be renewed up to the five year just by filling renewal application form along with supporting documents with renewal and marking fee.
Inclusion of New Variety in the Existing License
BIS Licensee can include new variety/Grades/Types/Class in the existing license by the following procedure –
- Submission of Original test report (Tested in BIS recognized lab)
- In-house test report
- Details of testing equipment
- Inclusion fee, etc.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Only Foreign manufacturers whose company are located outside India and want to export their product in India.
Please click to get mandatory product list under scheme 1
In order to know the procedure of getting BIS FMCS license, Please follow the above mentioned process.
Yes. Foreign applicant has to nominate AIR who must be Indian resident with his consent to be responsible for the compliance to the provisions of the BIS Act, norms, terms and conditions included in the BIS License and Agreement.
It is compulsory to foreign applicant to do the payment in USD. SAARC Countries can do the payment in either in USD or INR.
It cannot be accepted. Only as per applicable Indian standard test report will be applicable.
Separate application for each product / ISS is required to be submitted even for same factory unit.
No. Only foreign manufacturer can apply for BIS license under FMCS.
Separate application for each product / ISS is required to be submitted even for same factory / Manufacturing location.
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