PRODUCT CERTIFICATION SCHEME (ISI MARK) FOR DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS

 ISI certification is granted to corporations and products by the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), which is the standardization authority of India. ISI Certification ensures that the products that are delivered to the customers are safe are in adherence with all the quality and safety standards set by them.  The term ISI stands for “Indian Standard Institute”. An ISI mark guarantees that an electrical product adheres to the Indian standards specified by the ISI. The process for obtaining ISI Mark is known as ISI certification. Generally, obtaining ISI Certification is a voluntary act. However, there are some electrical products or items, like wires, appliances, electric motor, etc. for which an ISI mark is compulsory before they can be sold in the market. This certificate acts as a proof that an electrical item or appliance is safe to use. 

The objectives of ISI Certification in India are as follows:

• Ensuring delivery of high-quality products to customers;
• Reducing wastage of resources and thereby minimising the production costs;
• Mitigating product rejections;
• Enhancing customer satisfaction and increasing the goodwill of the business;
• Providing better growth prospects to the business;
• Guaranteeing the quality and safety of products.

 The National Standard Body, i.e., BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), has the autonomy to grant ISI certificate or mark in India. Further, once an application for the ISI Certificate is received, the BIS officer starts a preliminary examination and verification of the factory premise. The same is done to ensure that the product not only complies with the Indian Standards, but is also safe to use and is not hazardous to the health of citizens in any form. 

The following are the benefits of an ISI Marked Product:

• An ISI marked products certifies its quality to its customers;
• An ISI marked product reduces the business’s losses as well as product rejection;
• An ISI marked product guarantees both better performance and longer shelf life.

At present, the Indian Government has implemented numerous changes to the manufacturing and trading sector. These changes include specifying higher standards by the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) which must comply with by every manufacturer who wants to sell their product in the market. The following products require compulsory ISI Certification:

• Household Electrical Appliances
• Food Related Items
• Cement
• Medical Equipment
• Oil Pressure Stoves and Cylinders
• Automobile Components
• Electrical Transformers
• Steel Products
• Milk Powder
• Kitchen Appliance
• Iron
• LPG

The key pointers to consider about ISI Mark certification in India are as follows:

• Detailsof the ISI mark certification must be specified by the seller on every invoice.
• Anyone can file a complaint to BIS if the product is not of good quality.
• All the manufacturers are regularly monitored by the BIS.
• The BIS Officer requires three months’ time to investigate a complaint filed against a manufacturer.

The Process of Obtaining ISI Certification in India involves the following steps:

• Select the Product CodeThe foremost step is to select a product quality that fulfils the guidelines prescribed by the BIS. The applicant must, therefore, identify and choose an ISI (Indian Standard Institute) standard product code for their product.
• Fill up the Application form for obtaining ISI CertificationAfter selecting the product code, the applicant must apply for obtaining ISI Certification. For this, Form-V is filed as an application for obtaining ISI certification along with the prescribed registration fees. Moreover, the applicant must pay audit fees in addition to the registration fees for further inspection.
  Note: The applicant must file separate ISI forms for each product manufactured.
• Inspection of the Factory Premise by the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) officerThe BIS Officer and the Inspection team will visit the applicant’s factory premises. Further, the Inspection team will thoroughly examine the quality control and manufacturing process of the applicant’s factory. The BIS Officer will collect some product as samples, and send the same for testing in a BIS authorised laboratory.
• Submit Sample ReportThe applicant must obtain the product sample’s report from the authorised labs, and submit it further to BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard).
• Issuance of ISI CertificateOnce the process of applying and verification of the submitted documents, test report, and application form (in Form-V) is completed, the BIS Authority issues a Certificate of ISI Mark Registration. Usually, the process of acquiring ISI Mark Certification takes around time of thirty days starting from the date of application submission. Further, the issued ISI Certificate is valid for a time span of one year and the same is qualified to get renewed after the expiry. For getting the certificate renewed, the applicant needs to file an application duly certified by a Practising Chartered Accountant.

The documents required for obtaining an ISI Certification are listed below:

• Registered address of the manufacturing unit;
• A copy of the Certification of Registrations;
• A copy of the Test Report by a BSI (Bureau Standards of India) authorized internal laboratory;
• Details of all the equipment used for testing;
• Packaging details like the size of the product, storage facility, quantity, etc.;
• Flow chart followed in the process of manufacturing;
• Proof of Indian Residency;
• A copy of the Trademark Registration;
• The disposing technique of the inferior product;
• All the details regarding the quality control staff like Name, Experience, Designation, and Qualification;
• Layout Plan of the Factory;
• Particulars about the raw material being used;
• All the details regarding machinery installed;
• A copy of Certificate from the Regulatory Authority;
• Product drawing;
• A copy of the Company’s bank statement;
• Utility bills like electricity bills, water tax receipt;