BIS Goes Fully Digital for Foreign Manufacturers — Effective 1 June 2026
If your company exports products to India and you have not yet registered on the BIS Manakonline Portal, the window for offline compliance has now closed. As of 1 June 2026, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) no longer accepts paper-based or hard-copy applications under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). All new applications must be submitted exclusively through the Manakonline Portal — India’s official BIS online system for foreign manufacturers.
This shift is the most significant procedural change to the FMCS process in years, and it coincides with a rapid expansion of the Quality Control Order (QCO) framework that is bringing dozens of new product categories under mandatory BIS certification. For any overseas manufacturer targeting the Indian market, the combined impact of these two developments demands immediate action.
What Is BIS FMCS? The Legal Baseline for Foreign Manufacturers
The Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) is administered by BIS under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. It is the mechanism through which overseas manufacturing facilities must obtain BIS approval — and earn the right to apply the ISI mark — before exporting regulated products to India.
Three key principles govern FMCS:
- Facility-level approval: Certification is granted to the manufacturing facility, not merely the product. Each factory location requires a separate application.
- Product-specific licensing: Each product requires its own application tied to a designated Indian Standard (IS code). A separate licence must be obtained for each product category.
- Mandatory ISI marking: Once certified, products must bear the ISI mark — confirming conformity with applicable Indian Standards — as a precondition for import, sale, and distribution.
FMCS applies to all products covered under India’s mandatory QCOs, except electronics and IT goods notified by MeitY, which fall under the separate Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). Non-compliance carries serious consequences: manufacturers exporting regulated products without BIS certification commonly face shipment detention of 30–60 days at Indian ports, import rejection, warehousing charges, and operational delays.
The Manakonline Portal: What Changed on 1 June 2026
Previously, the FMCS application process was entirely paper-dependent. Foreign manufacturers were required to prepare two complete sets of hard-copy documents — signed, stamped, and physically dispatched to India — for their Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) to submit to BIS. This created friction at every stage of the process.
BIS has now migrated the entire process to the Manakonline Portal, where foreign manufacturers can apply for FMCS, upload documents, make fee payments, and track their application status in real time. Offline or hard-copy applications ceased to be accepted after 31 May 2026. Companies that have not yet transitioned to the online system risk delays in obtaining BIS approval, or outright rejection of their submissions.
What the Portal Does Not Change
The portal changes how documents are submitted, not what is required. All standard FMCS documentation requirements remain fully in force. Foreign manufacturers must still ensure:
- Confirmation of the applicable Indian Standard (IS code) for their product at bis.gov.in before initiating portal registration
- Preparation of all technical documents to digital submission standards
- Appointment of a qualified Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) in India
The Mandatory AIR: A Critical Compliance Requirement
The Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) remains a mandatory element of every FMCS application. The AIR is the legal point of contact between the foreign manufacturer and BIS, assumes regulatory accountability within India, and manages all portal interactions on the manufacturer’s behalf. In 2026, BIS has increased its focus on AIR responsibilities during audits, product testing, and post-certification surveillance activities. Choosing an experienced, responsive AIR is therefore a substantive compliance decision — not an administrative formality.
New QCO Deadlines in 2026: Sectors Under Pressure
The digitisation of FMCS applications is happening alongside a major expansion of India’s QCO framework. In 2026, the Government of India continues to expand the list of products requiring mandatory BIS certification, with new QCOs and enforcement dates staggered across the year.
Electrical Appliances QCO — October 1, 2026 Deadline
India has introduced the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026, which is one of the most expansive QCOs issued to date. Effective 1 October 2026, the regulation requires more than 90 categories of household, commercial, and industrial electrical appliances to obtain BIS certification and carry the ISI mark before entering the Indian market. High-exposure sectors include home appliance manufacturers, HORECA (hotel, restaurant, café/catering) equipment suppliers, and food-tech equipment firms. For foreign manufacturers in these categories, the certification process should ideally have begun 6–9 months in advance to avoid supply chain disruptions — which means the window is already tight.
Electronics and IT Products — Standard Transition
Electronics and IT products are transitioning to the hazard-based IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 standard, replacing the older IS 13252 and IS 616 frameworks. This affects laptops, monitors, power supplies, audio equipment, and a wide range of IT accessories. Manufacturers must update their test reports and certifications before the transition deadline.
Industrial Chemicals and Furniture
Industrial chemicals — including specific polymers and chemical intermediates — are being brought under QCO coverage with enforcement dates staggered through 2026. Furniture products now also require BIS certification under the expanded framework. Both categories affect importers as well as domestic manufacturers.
FMCS Certification: Process, Timeline, and Fees
Step-by-Step Process
- Identify the applicable Indian Standard (IS code) for your product category
- Appoint a qualified Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) in India
- Register on the Manakonline Portal and prepare all technical documents to digital submission standards
- Submit the application and pay applicable fees through the portal
- Arrange product sample dispatch to a BIS-recognised testing laboratory in India
- Undergo a factory audit by BIS officials at your overseas manufacturing facility
- Receive Grant of Licence and commence ISI marking on certified products
Timelines
The certification timeline for foreign manufacturers typically ranges from 4 to 9 months, depending on the product category, testing requirements, and factory audit readiness. Given the October 2026 deadline for electrical appliances and other rolling QCO deadlines through the year, manufacturers who have not yet initiated the process face a genuinely narrow window.
Fees
FMCS certification involves multiple cost components: application fees, product testing charges, factory inspection costs (which include BIS auditor travel and accommodation to the overseas facility), annual marking fees, and renewal charges. Foreign manufacturers incur higher total costs than domestic applicants due to the overseas factory audit requirement. Total FMCS costs in 2026 can range from approximately ₹1,00,000 to ₹3,00,000 or more depending on the product category and the manufacturer’s country of origin. Under the updated 2026 conformity assessment regulations, BIS has also introduced advance annual fee payment requirements; failure to pay annual fees or submit production details may result in suspension of the licence for up to 90 days, followed by cancellation if compliance is not completed. A late fee of ₹5,000 applies to renewal applications submitted after licence expiry.
Post-Certification: Ongoing Compliance Obligations
FMCS certification is not a one-time exercise. Initial licences are valid for one year and may be renewed for one or two years. Key post-certification obligations include:
- Timely payment of annual fees and submission of production data through the Manakonline Portal
- Cooperation with BIS surveillance audits at the overseas factory
- Maintaining ISI mark labelling and batch traceability in compliance with BIS requirements
- Notifying BIS of any changes to the manufacturing process, product design, or factory location
- Ensuring that the AIR remains active and responsive to BIS queries throughout the licence period
Practical Takeaways for Foreign Manufacturers
- Register on the Manakonline Portal now — offline applications are no longer accepted as of 1 June 2026.
- Electrical appliance manufacturers must act urgently — the October 1, 2026 QCO deadline is fewer than four months away, and the FMCS process takes 4–9 months.
- Appoint a credible AIR — their role has expanded in 2026 and BIS scrutiny of AIR responsibilities during audits has increased.
- Verify your IS code before applying — applications tied to incorrect or outdated Indian Standards will face rejection and restart the clock.
- Budget for the full cost structure — including travel, testing, annual fees, and renewal charges — before entering the Indian market.
- Check whether your product is newly covered — the QCO framework is expanding rapidly across electronics, chemicals, appliances, and furniture in 2026.
ACPL’s regulatory experts can help you navigate BIS FMCS certification for foreign manufacturers entering India. Contact us at info@acplgroupindia.co.in or call +91-9266665201 for a consultation.