BIS CRS Certification for Electronics: Ensuring Quality & Compliance

In the Indian Electronics industry, compliance for BIS and CRS Certifications is becoming the most important prerequisite for enduring and sustainable growth. This is especially the case when the industry is expected to grow and reach more than 300 billion dollars in the following years. Manufacturers and importers in the field must make sure to meet the strict requirements pertaining to the safety, quality and eco-friendliness of the products to be manufactured or imported.

At the top of the requirements is the BIS Certification for Electronic Products and CRS Certification which is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). These regulations not only protect the audience and consumers from products of low quality and potential harm, but also enable entry into the market. Understanding BIS Registration for Electronic Products and CRS Registration is very important, and this guide will outline the important steps to take toward compliance while also providing insight into the need for professional assistance.

The Foundations of BIS Certification for Electronic Products

BIS Certification for Electronic Products is mandatory for all products as a mark of quality and safety in India, as per the BIS Act of 2016. Certification is mandatory for notified electronic items like household refrigerators and washing machines, consumer mobile chargers, and LED lights. The goal is to minimize the potential risks electrical, electromagnetic compatibility, and materials of construction durability pose to the end-user. the Certification is to ensure a safe environment to defuse safety and quality issues.

BIS Certification improves a company's reputation and makes it easier to legally export and import goods, but the risks of BIS noncompliance should get a company's full attention. penalties include up to 20 lakh in fines, imprisonment, and seizure of the goods. Electronic products account for over 60% of India's imports, which come from countries like China and Vietnam. Hence, BIS Certification is a ticket to one of the largest markets in the world for electronic goods.

In order to determine the right IS standard that applies to your product category, you would look to the IS 616:2010 standard, which talks about the safety regulations for audio, video, and similar electronic apparatus and the IS 13252 standard which applies to IT equipment.

After this, the manufacturer applies for BIS Certification through the Manakonline portal, and the manufacturer submits required technical documents such as product schematics, bills of materials, quality control manuals, and anything else that might be required. After the submission, the product will be sent to BIS laboratories for the documents to be tested for electrical safety, efficiency, and several performance criteria outlined in the quality control documents.

After the product passes BIS certification, the quality control documents will be sent back to the manufacturer to be disposed of to help them complete the quality control documents. It also helps the manufacturer complete the factory audit required before the certification is issued. The BIS certification is valid for one to two years and comes with periodic surveillance to help assess level of quality control for renewal.

This certification is designed to take 3-6 months, and this period can be greatly increased by poorly designed documents or long periods to coordinate audits. Some other things that can be worked to decrease this time will be complex certification documents and coordinating overseas product testing. By applying for BIS certification for electronic products, the manufacturer can be the first in the region and gain a competitive advantage which would help the business become very reliable. Compliance is a  rule by law for all manufacturers.

Streamlining BIS Registration for Electronic Products: A Step-by-Step Approach 

BIS Registration for Electronic Products focuses on administrative back-end operations to ensure BIS Certification quality approval. Under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS), which applies to overseas producers exporting to India, BIS Registration is mandatory and assigns a Registration Number to the Registrant. This Registration Number must be attached to every unit going to the Indian market. 

BIS Registration is the first step for market access. It ensures that foreign facilities do not meet the Indian quality standards and thus, helps in preventing the public health crisis posed by unsafe electronics. Registration is mandatory for products like power adapters (IS 13252 Part 1) and lithium-ion batteries (IS 16046). Customs authorities will hold products that do not have the proper Registration Number and it will damage the Registrant’s reputation. 

BIS Registration is initiated by following the prescribed steps. Self-assessment against the relevant IS standard is the first step in confirming scope alignment. Then, the following documents should be compiled: factory layouts, organizational structure, test reports from accredited (NABL or ILAC) labs, and in-house quality control documents. Details on manufacturing capacity, raw material procurement, and environment management for online applications will also need to be completed.

After submission, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) clears the dossier within 30 to 45 days, and marks any issues for correction. If there are no issues, a pre-license inspection or audit is planned. These are often virtual for remote sites but are conducted on-site for items in high-risk categories. International manufacturers are able to enjoy BIS's partnerships with overseas organizations. Nonetheless, logistical issues like travel restrictions can extend timelines to 4 to 8 months. Renewals require the submission of annual surveillance test reports, which aids in the ongoing enforcement of compliance.

 Stakeholders are recommended to use the available digital interfaces for a more streamlined approach and to collaborate with them as early as possible. BIS Registration for Electronic Products thus turns a bureaucratic challenge into a proactive opportunity, allowing exporters to access India's rapidly growing e-commerce and smart home sectors.

Unpacking CRS Certification and CRS Registration: Safeguarding IT and Electronics.

The Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) Certification was introduced in 2012 by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) and aims at a wider net of electronic and IT goods, which now includes laptops, printers, and storage devices.  Unlike general BIS schemes, CRS prescribes and mandates registration for 31 notified categories as a means to control hazardous imports and bolster local manufacturing initiatives under the Make in India scheme.

For electronics importers, having a CRS Certification is a fundamental requirement as it helps enforce norms related to electromagnetic compatibility, safety, reducing fire hazards, and electronic waste. In its absence, a product is banned and recalled, causing detrimental disruptions and costs to the supply chain. The scheme’s focus on market pre-verification builds confidence and trust from consumers, while the CRS mark is seen as evidence of certification verification.

For volume-driven electronics, CRS Registration is tailored and mirrors BIS processes. Start the process by selecting the product from the notified list and applying for this via the BIS portal to get a unique authorization number. Some of the key documents needed are product descriptions and circuit diagrams, EMC test reports from BIS accredited labs, and a declared conformity. Foreign entities will need to have an Indian Delegate (Authorised Indian Representative, AIR) as this AIR will assume responsibility.

The process consists of application submission, a scrutiny phase (which takes 15-20 days), a sample testing phase (which can take up to 60 days), and license issuance once the conditions are met. Length of a license is two years, and it must include labeling on the product’s packaging. The most common reasons for avoidable delays are unaligned testing parameters and delays in the testing labs. On the whole, CRS Registration facilitates easier access to the market, and is aligned to the international standards for IT safety, IEC 60950.

The BIS frameworks and CRS certification combine to form a strong compliance shield, particularly for hybrid products that combine IT and consumer electronics. 

Strategic Role of Consulting Experts to Comply

 

For manufacturers, BIS and CRS certifications provide a great set of tools, but each set of tools also comes with great challenges, and issues of compliance which may arise. Sometimes lack of documentation leads to compliance being rejected which constitutes for around 40%. Having cross-border audits also leads to issues of complexity. Resource limitations constitute for compliance fatigue, especially for SME which is understandable given their size.   

For such issues, there are better outcome with a mixed approach, which may include early gap analysis, development of internal quality teams, and well-built relationships with strong consultants. Having consultants can lead to a 30-50% increase in approvals which leads to a great increase in a company's bottom line, which is readily apparent with erred submissions and lab conferencing. For electronic products, consultants are valuable in establishing in-house testing setups to ameliorate the waiting periods and increasing long-term independence from external testing facilities. 

There are many strong players and having the right partner leads to the best results which can be seen as a demystification of regulations which involve IS standard interpretation and FMCS audits which includes regions of Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond. Their holistic approach includes everything from application preparation to surveillance after a license has been issued.Conclusion: Empowering Your Journey to Compliance Excellence

Conclusion

EVTL India is renowned as a leading BIS consultancy in India. Since 2014, we have assisted and empowered numerous clients in acquiring BIS licenses with minimal disruptions. We have completed over 880 projects and helped more than 1200 clients, including CRS certification and BIS registration with various electronic products. We have and continue to provide global support in audits conducted in Thailand and Vietnam. Our over 99 professionals guarantee peace of mind by meeting and consulting the IS standards in your custom designed electronics in labs, as well as providing factory audits.

Finally, having BIS certification for your electronic products and CRS registration is more than just regulation. It is a market opportunity for your products within India. It is also a means to protect your business, build trust, and encourage growth for your operations. In-country innovators and exporters, with the right support, you can navigate any regulation. For any information and support, you can visit the EVTL India support page or contact +91 95609 35898. Your opportunity to India’s electronics market is here. Your opportunity to India’s electronics market is here.