BIS CRS Registration in India
Compulsory Registration Scheme

The ministries notify the products to be applicable for BIS CRS Registration in the Compulsory Registration Order. No person shall manufacture or store for sale, import, or distribution, goods which do not conform to the Indian Standard specified in the Order. Manufacturers of these products are required to apply for registration from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The registered manufacturers are then allowed to use the Standard Mark notified by the Bureau.

A Unique Registration number is provided by the BIS to all manufacturers registered under the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme. The R-Number is provided for each individual product of the manufacturer produced at a specific location. It is always granted to a manufacturer of the product, and not to an importer.

An Order under the CRS BIS comes into effect as notified by the authorities. The manufacturer of the goods must adhere to the rules specified in Order after it comes into effect.

The order norms state that products manufactured or imported before the Order’s effective date are not bound by the Order.

According to BIS CRS rules, the test report once issued will be valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

According to the regulations, the ISI Standard Mark must be displayed on the product’s packaging and on the product itself. Additionally, due to size restrictions, if it doesn’t appear acceptable, the mark can only be applied to the packaging. E-Labelling is required, though, if the goods are, say, display screens.

BIS provides for E labelling on any device with an integrated display screen, including BIS “Standard Mark” electronically in place of a physical label on the product. However, while e-labelling, make sure:

• The product or package or both contains BIS website reference www.bis.gov.in
• The marking is required even if the reference to the BIS website is provided in the e-labelling of the product.
• Registered products meant to be integrated or built into the main product need to comply with the requirement of referencing to the BIS website until integrated with the host product.

Yes, different brands are required to be registered under the BIS CRS separately. If the product and the manufacturing location of the brands are the same, a common test report for different brands may be submitted. All brands with respective model numbers should be listed in the test report.

According to the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme, a distinct registration number is given to the manufacturer individually for each location. To conduct business, the manufacturer must submit a separate registration application for each location. Additionally, a test report for goods produced at each manufacturing location should accompany each location’s special registration application.

According to the law, it is not necessary to re-register a product that has already been imported. Once registration is granted by the Bureau, it is valid for the following two years. Only revalidation of the original registration is required.

“Standalone” means that the products being imported/sold/ manufactured as independent products and not in the form of part/component of any product. For instance, the Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPSs)in the form of complete products are covered under the Order irrespective of their end-use. However, SMPS without enclosures are not covered under the Order. If the product is fitted in a host product which is not notified under the Order, registration is not required; however, when its SMPS is imported as a standalone product, it would require registration.

Spare parts are generally used as a replacement for the faulty unit. The compulsory registration order applies to the spare components if they are notified individually under the CRO as an independent product unless the registration is only required to be applied to finished goods.

The provisions of the Order shall not apply to the goods manufactured or imported for the purpose of demonstration, research and development or testing, provided that such goods be subsequently exported or deformed beyond use and disposed of as scrap. Products sent abroad for maintenance are allowed to be brought in without a BIS registration number, provided the model number/serial number does not change. In case faulty units are replaced with new units of a different serial number, the new units would require registration under the Order.

The renewal of the BIS CRS Licence is granted by BIS itself, upon the correct filing of the renewal application in the prescribed format by the registered user. The renewal application, along with the requisite fee, shall be filed at least one month in advance from the date of expiry of registration.

Repeating the testing process is not mandatory at the time of renewal; however, test samples would be picked up for testing during surveillance. The Order under BIS CRS provides that the testing may be needed if the test report as per the latest version of the upgraded standard is not available at the time of renewal (Para 3 of Order dated 13 Nov. 2014).

If they are pre-certified, plugs and sockets that follow other international standards can be accepted. Additionally, the pins of sockets and plugs, or plug components of products with built-in plugs, should conform to the current edition of IS: 1293 in terms of configuration and dimensions. Additionally, the ISI marking on plugs and sockets is optional.

According to the required definition, a desktop falls within automatic data processing equipment which is included in the list. However, the Order exclusively excludes desktops and personal computers from its provisions.

The scope under the title Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Machines about the notified order covers:

• Data Preparation Equipment
• Data Processing Equipment
• Data Storage Equipment
• Personal Computer- But the desktop or personal computer is not covered under the provisions of the CRO
• Plotter
• Printer
• Scanner
• VDU

If the sealed batteries form an integral part of the product, which is covered under the Order, it requires mandatory BIS CRS registration; otherwise, it does not. For example – Sealed batteries used in shavers and trimmers do not require BIS registration as Shaver and trimmers are not a notified product under CRO.

The following are examples of safety-critical components:

• Power cords
• Switches
• Safety Isolating Transformers
• Fuses
• Rechargeable Batteries
• Picture tubes / CROs
• PCBs
• Thermostats
• X and Y capacitors
• Fusible resistors/varistors
• Plug/sockets/connectors
• Lamp holders
• Cells (For batteries)
• External and internal wire for LED Luminaires
• Insulation tape
• Electrolytic Bulk Capacitor
• The above list is indicative only.