Refrigerating Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2020:
On December 10, 2020, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade notified in letter S.O. 4489(E) Refrigerating Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2020. This order mandates the listed Refrigerating appliances included in Scope of the QCO below must adhere to Indian Standards and bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Scope of the QCO
The Refrigerating appliances listed in below table is prescribed under Refrigerating Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2020 is now mandated for BIS Scheme – I ISI mark certification.
Indian Standard
IS 1476 (part 1)
Product Name
Household refrigerating appliance-Refrigerators with or without low temperature
Indian Standard
IS 7872
Product Name
Freezers
Actors affected due to 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
Through REACHLaw India Pvt. Ltd., with offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, we provide comprehensive Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) support – as an Authorized Indian Representative and full-service regulatory partner.
From licensing and representation to post-certification support, our long-standing presence in India and close engagement with BIS authorities ensure efficient, reliable outcomes for both local and foreign manufacturers.
Partner with REACHLaw India for trusted BIS compliance expertise, regulatory foresight, and seamless market access to India and worldwide.
For more details, please contact us at: indiabis@reachlaw.fi
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