BIS / ISI Certification Applicability Checker
Find out live whether your product needs an ISI mark, CRS registration, FMCS licence or Hallmarking — and whether it is mandatory.
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Fill in the details — the answer on the right updates as you go.
Certification detail
Get your BIS / ISI licence handled end-to-end
We check applicability, prepare the file, coordinate lab testing and follow up on the grant.
Disclaimer: Indicative guidance based on the product category selected. Actual BIS coverage is fixed by the specific Indian Standard, QCO and notification for your exact product. Verify on the BIS portal before applying.
BIS schemes — ISI vs CRS vs FMCS vs Hallmark
The Bureau of Indian Standards certifies products through several distinct schemes. Which one applies depends on the product and whether it is made in India or imported. Only products covered by a mandatory Indian Standard or a Quality Control Order (QCO) are compulsory — everything else is voluntary.
Product Certification Scheme under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations. The classic ISI mark for domestic manufacturing of products like cement, steel, helmets, LPG cylinders, pressure cookers, packaged water and footwear.
Mandatory where the product is covered by a mandatory Indian Standard / QCO; otherwise voluntary. Licence carries a CM/L number.
Compulsory Registration Scheme under Scheme-II. Covers electronics & IT goods notified under a QCO — mobiles, adapters, LED lighting, IT hardware, batteries and more.
The manufacturer self-declares conformity after lab testing and gets a registration (R-number). Applies to both Indian and foreign makers of notified electronics.
Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. The route a manufacturer located outside India uses to obtain a BIS licence for ISI-mark / Hallmark products so they can be sold in India.
Same standards as the domestic ISI scheme, but with an Indian representative (AIR) and higher fees. Electronics still go via CRS, not FMCS.
Mandatory Hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts, with a 6-digit HUID. Jewellers register with BIS; assaying & hallmarking centres apply the mark.
This is a purity certification of the article, distinct from ISI/CRS product certification.
How BIS certification works
Whichever scheme applies, the path is broadly the same: confirm the standard, test the product, file the application and use the mark once granted.
Identify the standard
Match your exact product to its Indian Standard (IS) and check whether it sits under a mandatory QCO or notification.
Test samples
Get the product tested in a BIS-recognised lab against every clause of the applicable IS.
File the application
Apply on the BIS portal — Scheme-I (ISI), CRS registration, FMCS, or Hallmarking registration as the case may be.
Grant & marking
On grant you get a CM/L (ISI), R-number (CRS) or HUID (Hallmark) and may affix the mark on goods.
Key terms explained
QCO — Quality Control Order
A government notification that makes a particular Indian Standard mandatory for a product. Once a QCO is in force, making, importing, storing or selling that product without BIS certification is prohibited.
Mandatory certification
When a product is covered by a mandatory IS or QCO, BIS certification is compulsory before sale. Products outside any QCO can still be certified voluntarily to signal quality.
R-number (CRS)
The registration number issued under the Compulsory Registration Scheme for notified electronics & IT goods. It must be printed on the product/packaging along with the BIS CRS logo.
ISI mark & CM/L
The ISI mark shows product conformity under Scheme-I; the licence carries a CM/L number. FMCS is simply the ISI route used by manufacturers located outside India.
Questions people ask
Short answers on BIS / ISI Applicability Checker. Tap a question to open it.
01What is BIS certification and when is it mandatory?
BIS certification, run by the Bureau of Indian Standards, confirms a product meets the relevant Indian Standard. It is mandatory for products covered by a Quality Control Order — currently several hundred product categories across electronics, steel, cement, toys, footwear, chemicals and more.
02What is the difference between ISI, CRS, FMCS and Hallmarking?
ISI Mark (Scheme I) covers domestic manufacturers of notified products. CRS is compulsory registration, largely for electronics and IT goods, based on a lab test report. FMCS is the ISI route for foreign manufacturers exporting to India. Hallmarking is the separate mandatory scheme for gold and silver jewellery.
03Does an importer need BIS certification?
Yes, but the licence is issued to the foreign manufacturer, not to the importer — under FMCS for ISI products or CRS registration for notified electronics. Importing a notified product without a valid BIS mark is an offence.
04Is BIS certification needed for exports?
No. BIS applies to goods placed on the Indian market. Goods manufactured in India purely for export are outside the mandatory schemes, though buyers abroad may ask for it voluntarily.
05How long does BIS certification take?
CRS registration is usually the fastest once you have a report from a BIS-recognised lab. ISI and FMCS involve a factory inspection and sample testing, so they typically take longer, and FMCS involves an overseas audit.
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Disclaimer: This tool gives indicative results for general guidance only and is not professional advice. Please verify with a qualified CA before acting on the numbers.