If you sell products in India, sooner or later someone will tell you that you need "BIS approval." Then comes the confusing part. One consultant says ISI, another says CRS, and a buyer uses both words in the same email. So are they the same thing? Short answer: no. Both come from the Bureau of Indian Standards, but they work differently and cover different products. In this UMSPCS guide, we explain how BIS ISI certification and BIS CRS certification differ, so you can work out which one your product needs.
What Is BIS ISI Certification?
The ISI mark is India's oldest and best-known quality mark. BIS ISI certification runs under Scheme-I of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018, and applies mainly to products where safety, health or public interest is a concern. Think of cement, steel bars, electrical wires, switches, pressure cookers, helmets and packaged drinking water, all covered by government Quality Control Orders.
The important point is that BIS ISI certification is a licence. BIS grants it to a specific factory for a specific product, not to a brand name or a trading company. To get it, a manufacturer must:
apply for a licence under the relevant Indian Standard,
set up a working quality control system and in-house testing facility,
allow BIS officers to inspect the factory,
send samples for testing in a recognised laboratory,
pay the fees and follow the marking rules.
Once the licence is issued, the manufacturer can print the ISI mark with the licence number on the product. BIS keeps checking through surveillance visits and market sample tests, and a licence can be suspended or cancelled if the rules are ignored.
What Is BIS CRS Certification?
The Compulsory Registration Scheme, or CRS, is newer. It was built for electronics and IT goods and follows Scheme-II of the same 2018 regulations. People say BIS CRS certification, although the correct word is registration. Covered products include mobile phones, power adapters, LED lights, smart watches, speakers, laptops, set-top boxes and CCTV cameras.
The route is lighter than a factory licence. A manufacturer tests the product in a BIS-recognised laboratory against the applicable Indian Standard, submits the test report with a declaration and other documents on the BIS portal, and receives a registration number, usually called an R-number. That number must appear on the product along with the Standard Mark. Because electronic models change so fast, this setup lets BIS cover a huge range of products without inspecting every plant first. Surveillance and sample checks still follow, so compliance does not end at registration.
BIS ISI Certification vs BIS CRS Certification: Key Differences
Point | ISI (Scheme-I) | CRS (Scheme-II) |
Type of approval | Product licence | Product registration |
Typical products | Cement, steel, cables, appliances, helmets | Electronics and IT goods |
Factory inspection | Yes, before the grant | Generally not before the grant |
Marking | ISI mark with licence number | Standard Mark with R-number |
Renewal | After a fixed licence period | Every two years |
The main difference is the depth of checking. A licence under BIS ISI certification looks at the whole production process, while BIS CRS certification centres on laboratory test reports and documents for each model.
Can One Product Need Both?
Rarely. A single product normally falls under one scheme, because each order names the exact items and standards. A company with several lines can still end up with both, though. A home appliance maker may need ISI for a heater and CRS for a smart speaker. Check your product category against the latest BIS notifications to be sure.
What Foreign Manufacturers Should Know
Many overseas companies lose time because they treat both schemes as one process. For ISI, a foreign factory applies through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS), and BIS usually inspects the overseas plant. That means planning for audit dates and a compliant quality system. For CRS, an overseas brand must appoint an Authorised Indian Representative, who handles the registration and all communication with BIS. Test reports must come from BIS-recognised labs.
In both cases, the product cannot legally be imported or sold in India without the right mark, and customs can hold shipments that miss it. Sorting out BIS ISI certification and BIS CRS certification before the first purchase order is far cheaper than fixing it after cargo lands at the port.
Read more about BIS for Indonesia .
How to Find Out Which One Applies to You
Write down the exact product name, model number and intended use.
Find the relevant Indian Standard (IS number).
Check whether it sits under an ISI Quality Control Order or the electronics CRS list.
Confirm whether your factory is in India or overseas.
Prepare technical documents, test reports and authorisation letters accordingly.
Mistakes usually happen at step three. Product names look similar, but standards differ. A power bank and a power adapter, for instance, are not treated the same, and a wrong guess can mean a rejected application.
How UMSPCS Can Help
At UMSPCS, we work on both schemes every day. Our team helps manufacturers, importers and brands pick the right scheme, prepare documents, coordinate laboratory testing, apply on the BIS portal and follow up until the licence or registration is in hand. Whether you need BIS ISI certification for an industrial product or BIS CRS certification for a new electronic model, we give a clear route and a realistic timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is ISI the same as CRS?
No. BIS ISI certification is a factory-based licence under Scheme-I, while BIS CRS certification is a registration scheme for electronics under Scheme-II. The procedures, documents and marks differ.
2. Which products need BIS CRS certification?
Electronics and IT goods listed under the Compulsory Registration Order, such as phones, adapters, LED products and speakers. The list changes, so check the latest notification.
3. Does BIS ISI certification need a factory inspection?
Yes. BIS reviews the manufacturing unit and its testing set-up before granting the licence, and may return for surveillance.
4. Can a trader apply in their own name?
Not for ISI, since the licence belongs to the manufacturing unit. For CRS, the manufacturer holds the registration, and a foreign brand needs an Indian representative to apply.
5. Which process takes longer?
It depends on the product, lab availability and document readiness. BIS CRS certification is usually quicker because there is no plant audit.
6. What happens if I sell without the required mark?
You risk customs holds, penalties and seizure of stock under the BIS Act, 2016.
7. Can UMSPCS handle the entire process?
Yes. UMSPCS manages scheme selection, testing, documentation, application and follow-up from start to finish.
Final Thoughts
BIS ISI certification and BIS CRS certification are two separate routes under one regulator. Pick the wrong one and you lose time and money. If you are unsure where your product sits, speak to UMSPCS before you ship, apply or sign a contract.
