Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order, 2003:
On February 17, 2003, the Central government notified in letter S.O. 189(E). the Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order, 2003. This order mandates Fifteen Household Electrical goods must adhere to Indian Standards and bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Scope of the QCO
Household Electrical goods listed in below table is prescribed under Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order, 2003 is now mandated for BIS Scheme – I ISI mark certification.
Indian Standard
IS 12640 (Part 1)
Product Name
Residual current operated circuit breakers for household and similar uses-Part 1 Circuit breakers without integral overcurrent protection (RCCBs)
Indian Standard
IS 12640 (Part 2)
Product Name
Residual current operated circuit breakers for household and similar uses – Part 2 Circuit breakers with integral overcurrent protection (RCVOs)
Indian Standard
IS 13010
Product Name
AC watt-hour meters, class 0.5, 1 & 2
Indian Standard
IS 13779
Product Name
AC static watt-hour meters, class 1 & 2
Indian Standard
IS 14697
Product Name
AC static transformer operated watt-hour and VAR-hour meters, class 0.2S & 0.5S
Indian Standard
IS 15111 (Part 1 & 2)
Product Name
Self-Ballasted Lamps for General Lighting Services – Part 1 : Safety Requirements & Part 2 : Performance Requirements
Indian Standard
IS 302 (Part 2/Sec 3)
Product Name
Safety of household and similar electrical appliances – Electric iron
Indian Standard
IS 302 (Part 2/Sec 201)
Product Name
Safety of household and similar electrical appliances – Electric immersion water-heaters
Indian Standard
IS 302 (Part 2/Sec 202)
Product Name
Safety of household and similar electrical appliances – Electric stoves
Indian Standard
IS 302 (Part 2/Sec 30)
Product Name
Safety of household and similar electrical appliances-Room heaters
Indian Standard
IS 3854
Product Name
Switches for domestic and similar purposes
Indian Standard
IS 418
Product Name
Tungsten filament general service electric lamps (upto100 W )
Indian Standard
IS 694
Product Name
PVC insulated cables for working voltages up to and including 1100V
Indian Standard
IS 8828 *
Product Name
Electrical Accessories-Circuit breakers for overcurrent protection for household and similar installations
Indian Standard
IS 9968 (Part 1)
Product Name
Elastomer insulated cables (Part.1): For working voltages up to and including1100 V
Actors affected by the QCO
Foreign Manufacturers
Foreign manufacturers can obtain a licence to use the Standard Mark on products that comply with the applicable Indian Standards under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).
To apply, the manufacturer must appoint an Indian resident as an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR). The application process is online, and the overall timeline for obtaining the licence is typically longer—generally around 6 months or more.
Domestic Manufacturers
Domestic manufacturers can obtain a licence to use the Standard Mark through the BIS Product Certification Scheme for products conforming to relevant Indian Standards.
The application process is conducted online, and the typical timeline for obtaining certification is approximately 2–3 months.
Process to obtain BIS Licence
Key Penalties and Legal Consequences
- Fines:Initial offenses carry a fine of no less than ₹1,00,000, while subsequent offences can lead to fines of ₹5,00,000 but may extend up to ten times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold
- Imprisonment:Up to two years for selling, manufacturing, or importing goods without the mandatory ISI mark.
- Seizure and Action:The BIS can conduct raids, seize products without the mark, and initiate legal action.
- Stop-marking/Sales Ban:Authorities can ban the sale of products, order product recalls, and cancel BIS licenses.
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BIS Compliance in India – Trusted BIS partner
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