BIS vs ISO is a common question for manufacturers, importers, and brand owners dealing with product compliance in India. Although both relate to quality and standards, BIS Certification and ISO Certification serve different regulatory purposes.

BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) is India’s national standards authority responsible for issuing mandatory product certifications based on applicable Indian Standards (IS). Products notified under BIS regulations must comply through either the ISI Certification Scheme (license with factory audit and ongoing surveillance) or the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), which mainly applies to electronics and IT products.

In contrast, ISO Certification is a voluntary management system certification issued by accredited certification bodies. ISO standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 focus on organizational processes and quality management systems. An ISO Certificate does not replace or exempt BIS Certification for products regulated in India.

To obtain BIS Certification, manufacturers must identify the correct Indian Standard (IS), define product scope (models, variants, ratings, critical components), and prepare technical documentation including drawings, specifications, BOM, safety declarations, quality system evidence, and compliant labeling artwork.

Product testing is carried out at a BIS-recognized laboratory. During testing, applicants complete application forms, brand authorizations, and—if the manufacturer is located outside India—appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR).

For products under CRS Registration, test reports and documents are submitted online to obtain a BIS Registration (R-Number). For products under the ISI Scheme, BIS conducts a factory audit, followed by surveillance and marking control procedures before granting a BIS License (CM/L Number) and permission to use the ISI Mark.

After approval, strict compliance with BIS marking and packaging rules is mandatory. Records must be maintained for surveillance, renewals must be tracked, and product changes must be managed to remain compliant.