Bureau of Indian Standards FMCS Registration

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme in 2000. It was created so that foreign manufacturers can get a BIS certificate and export their products to India. 

If foreign manufacturers obtain the ISI mark on their products, it means they are bringing the same quality, safe, and reliable products to India. With the help of FMCS BIS certification, foreign manufacturers are able to apply for a BIS license under the FMCS scheme. 

Under this process, factory inspections, product testing in BIS-approved labs, and numerous other steps occur, and then they receive the certificate. After this, manufacturers can use the ISI mark on their products. BIS FMCS list of products contains all the mandatory products, meaning everyone has to get certification, whether it is electrical goods, chemicals or any other category.

Here are the major reasons why FMCS BIS certification is important:

• With BIS FMCS registration, foreign manufacturers can easily and legally enter the market; without it, this is not possible.
• Seeing the ISI mark on the product, consumers gain trust and are interested in buying the product.
• BIS FMCS license increases the value of both the product and the brand.
• The meaning of having an FMCS certificate is very direct that the product is safe to use, is fully compliant, and follows all the rules.
• This increases fair competition, meaning foreign manufacturers can compete with Indian manufacturers in the market.

The following are products under the BIS FMCS list that require FMCS BIS certification:

If any foreign manufacturer wants to export and sell its products in India, then it has to meet the following requirements:

• Their manufacturing unit should be outside India.
• The foreign manufacturer will have to comply with all the terms and conditions of the BIS license.
• Product testing equipment and quality control personnel should be available in the in-house laboratory as per ISS.
• Products should comply with the applicable Indian Standard Specification (ISS).
• Manufacturers should agree with SIT (Scheme of Inspection and Testing) and pay the annual marking fee.
• All machinery and testing facilities should be available in the factory premises.

Here are the basic documents needed for FMCS BIS certification:

• Factory or Company Registration Papers
• Flow Chart of Manufacturing Process
• Business License & ISO Certificate
• Test Reports as per Indian Standards
• Nomination of Authorised Indian Representative (AIR)
• Declaration and Undertakings by Manufacturer

Here is the process for BIS FMCS registration:

• Submit Application

Compile all the documents and apply. Along with the documents, you will have to give the hard copy to BIS online and the FMCD department, and then the BIS authority will verify the application.

• Query Resolution

If any query is raised, whether it is a document missing or something incomplete, then an email is sent to the applicant. And if everything is correct, then an acknowledgement number is received.

• Audit/Inspection

A BIS officer is appointed who will inspect everything properly. From the manufacturing process to the product testing, and then collect the sample and send it for testing.

• Sample Testing

The sample will go to the BIS approval laboratory, where it will be tested, and BIS will get the test report. And whatever charges are incurred, those will be paid by the application firm.

• Grant of License

Then, if the report is satisfactory, the license will be granted, if not, then the license will be rejected.

The BIS FMCS certificate usually takes 6 months. It includes application review, inspection, testing and approval. If there is any query or the document is incomplete, then the timeline can also be extended. Once the FMCS certificate is received, the foreign manufacturer can sell the product with the ISI mark in India.

Renewal of BIS FMCS License

The BIS FMCS license is valid for one year. If the manufacturer wants to sell its product with the ISI mark, it will have to apply for it again under the BIS FMCS scheme before it expires. For renewal, proof is required of whether the product is following Indian standards or not. For this, proper documents have to be submitted, after which the certificate is returned.

The fees for a BIS FMCS certificate depend on many things. These include product category, testing type, number of manufacturing units, inspection charges, marking fees and many more. The cost of a license is different for every manufacturer.

Nomination of AIR (Authorised Indian Representative) for Foreign Manufacturers

Foreign manufacturers applying for a BIS Certificate for Foreign Manufacturer must nominate an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) under the BIS FMCS scheme. The AIR acts as a local contact point for compliance, communication, and legal responsibility in India. Here are the guidelines for nomination of Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) FOR foreign manufacturers:

1. The BIS Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) must be an Indian resident to meet BIS compliance rules.
2. If the foreign manufacturer has a branch or office in India, an employee from that office should be the AIR. If there is no office in India, the manufacturer can legally appoint any person as AIR, as long as the BIS Act 2016 and BIS rules are followed.
3. The BIS Authorised Indian Representative must not have any conflict of interest with the testing of product samples in third-party laboratories.
4. The AIR must be at least a graduate and should clearly understand the BIS Act 2016, BIS rules, BIS licence process, and compliance requirements.
5. The AIR must give written consent to take full responsibility for following the BIS Act, BIS rules, BIS regulations, and all terms and conditions of the BIS licence and agreement.
6. The name of the BIS Authorised Indian Representative is written and endorsed in the BIS licence document.
7. The foreign manufacturer must always make sure that the BIS licence is never without an active Authorised Indian Representative during its operation.
8. If there is any change in the AIR or the address of the AIR, the manufacturer must inform BIS in advance to continue BIS compliance.

Corpseed is one of the top consulting firms, offering comprehensive assistance in safety and regulatory compliance, guiding businesses through the necessary processes. We help individuals and companies with BIS FMCS registration. We make the process simple and smooth for manufacturers by handling every step with expert support. Our team works closely with companies to ensure that all requirements are met on time without stress.

Here is how Corpseed can help:

• We provide proper guidance from your first step till the time you get a license.
• We help with documentation so that no mistake is made.
• We act as a bridge between manufacturers and BIS to resolve queries quickly and speed up approval.
• We specialise in product testing with BIS BIS-approved lab.
• We help in liaising with the department on behalf of the applicant.