Government of India issues 187 QCOs requiring BIS certification

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has reported that 187 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) have been issued by various regulators and ministries in India.

These QCOs mandate compulsory BIS certification for 769 products.

According to BIS, the QCOs are issued under the BIS Act, 2016 and serve as a mechanism for enforcing conformity with Indian Standards.

The certification requirements apply across multiple sectors, including industry and construction.

The QCOs are introduced in the interest of public safety, environmental protection, fair trade, and national security.

Manufacturers of products listed in the QCOs must meet Indian Standards and obtain BIS certification.

A full list of products under compulsory certification is available on the BIS website.

Electrical appliances and machinery included under new safety QCOs

The Government of India has issued two horizontal Quality Control Orders in 2024 focusing specifically on the safety aspects of products.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has released the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

This order requires all electrical appliances for household and commercial use, with rated voltages up to 250 V (single phase) or 415 V (three phase), to be BIS certified unless already covered by another QCO.

Separately, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has issued the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024.

This QCO includes 20 categories of machinery and electrical equipment and their components under mandatory BIS certification.

BIShosts safety sessions across Indian cities to promote labour protection

BIS branch offices have organised Manak Manthans focused on labour safety at the workplace.

These events were held in cities including Gwalior, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Hubli, Chennai and Dehradun.

The sessions aimed to engage stakeholders such as government agencies, industries, and standards organisations to encourage the implementation of safety practices.

BIS stated that these sessions helped increase awareness about workplace safety standards and their role in reducing risks and injuries.

BIS defines Indian Standards for respiratory, fall and fire protection

BIS has outlined Indian Standards aimed at enhancing occupational health and safety in sectors such as mining, construction, chemical processing, and manufacturing.

Respiratory protection standards include IS 9473:2002 for filtering masks and IS 10245 (Part 2):2023 for firefighting self-contained breathing apparatus.

Fall prevention is addressed through the IS 3521 series, covering equipment like full-body harnesses, lanyards, anchorage systems and rescue gear.

Fire safety standards include IS 16890:2024 for firefighter suits, IS 16874:2018 for gloves, and IS 15683:2018 for fire extinguishers.

These standards are intended to minimise health risks and hazards for workers by ensuring the availability and use of compliant safety equipment.

India mandates BIS certification for 769 products under national safety regulations: Summary

The Bureau of Indian Standards has confirmed that 187 Quality Control Orders have been issued across India requiring BIS certification for 769 products.

These orders are authorised by the BIS Act, 2016 and apply to a range of sectors for reasons including public health and national security.

Two new QCOs mandate BIS certification for electrical appliances and industrial machinery.

Sessions hosted by BIS across several Indian cities have promoted labour safety standards.

BIS has also published specific Indian Standards for respiratory protection, fall prevention and fire safety.

These standards provide manufacturers and employers with clear requirements for equipment used in hazardous work environments.

This information was presented in a written reply by Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri B.L. Verma in the Rajya Sabha.