DPIIT Introduces Transition Facilitation QCO: A Simpler Route To BIS Certification For Products Covered Under Specified Quality Control Orders

Background

Under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 ("BIS Act") and the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 ("BIS Regulations"), manufacturers of goods covered under notified Quality Control Orders ("QCOs") are required to obtain a BIS licence to use or apply the Standard Mark before manufacturing, importing, selling, distributing or otherwise placing such goods in the Indian market.

Under the existing framework, products covered by most Quality Control Orders (“QCOs”) are required to obtain BIS certification under Scheme I, which involves a rather lengthy and complex process of grant of a licence requiring the physical assessment of the manufacturing facility, testing of product samples and verification of compliance with the applicable Indian Standard ("IS"). In contrast, Scheme II provides a comparatively simplified registration-based certification mechanism under which the manufacturer obtains registration based on self-declaration of