From the electronics inside our smartphones to the insulated flask sitting on an office desk, products entering the Indian market are facing a regulatory environment that is becoming more structured, more comprehensive and increasingly compliance-driven. For manufacturers, importers, foreign brands and businesses entering the Indian market, BIS certification and regulatory compliance are no longer isolated administrative requirements. Quality Control Orders (QCOs), Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) requirements, product-specific standards and evolving environmental obligations are increasingly influencing how businesses plan manufacturing, imports, product launches and market access.
At Kar Parivartan, we are seeing this transition first-hand. India’s regulatory approach is steadily moving from a reactive, paperwork-driven model towards a more structured system where businesses are expected to identify applicable requirements and prepare well before an enforcement date.
Here are five important regulatory shifts that businesses should not overlook in 2026.
1. The Five-Year Upgrade: A Major Change for Scheme-II Licence Holders
One of the most significant recent changes in the BIS conformity-assessment framework is the revision of licence validity under Scheme-II.
Following the amendment to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 dated 25 February 2026, licences under Scheme-II may now be granted initially for up to five years, with renewal possible for a further period of up to five years. The revised framework also requires applicable fees to be paid annually in advance, meaning that the longer licence period does not eliminate annual compliance obligations.
For businesses operating under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), this is particularly relevant because CRS operates through Scheme-II. However, it is important to understand the distinction: Scheme-II is the conformity-assessment scheme, while CRS is a regulatory framework used for specified electronics and IT products.
The practical benefit is clear. Manufacturers managing multiple registrations can now plan their certification lifecycle over a considerably longer period rather than treating licence validity as a frequent renewal milestone.
However, businesses should not interpret the five-year validity as “five years without compliance activity.”
Annual fee payments and prescribed production-related submissions remain important for continued operation of the licence. Failure to meet these obligations can have consequences under the BIS conformity-assessment framework.
What does this mean for businesses ?
The regulatory focus is shifting from frequent renewal management to continuous compliance management.
For CRS manufacturers and other Scheme-II licensees, this means:
- Tracking annual fee-payment requirements
- Maintaining accurate production records
- Monitoring applicable standards and amendments
- Managing model additions and changes
- Keeping registration details updated
- Planning renewals well before the five-year validity period expires
For companies with multiple BIS registrations, this can significantly improve long-term compliance planning.
2. The June 30 Compliance Clock: EPR Is Now an Operational Responsibility
BIS certification is only one part of India’s broader product-compliance landscape. For businesses covered under India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, 30 June is an important annual compliance milestone for several waste streams, including requirements relating to annual returns for the preceding financial year.
Under the Battery Waste Management Rules, producers are required to file annual returns relating to waste batteries collected and recycled/refurbished towards their EPR obligations by 30 June of the following financial year.
Similarly, the Plastic Waste Management framework requires relevant obligated entities to submit annual information and EPR-related documentation through the prescribed system. The regulatory framework also provides for environmental compensation in cases of non-fulfilment of specified EPR obligations and filing requirements. This is an important change in the way businesses should view environmental compliance.
EPR is not simply an environmental initiative sitting alongside business operations. For an obligated producer, importer or brand owner, it can directly affect registration status, documentation, recycling obligations and regulatory exposure.
The bigger picture
A product’s compliance journey increasingly extends beyond its point of manufacture or import.
For businesses dealing with electronics, batteries, plastic packaging, tyres, used oil or other regulated waste streams, compliance therefore needs to be viewed across the entire product lifecycle.
At Kar Parivartan, our work across BIS certification and EPR compliance allows businesses to approach these obligations as connected parts of their regulatory strategy rather than as isolated filings.
3. From Everyday Appliances to Niche Products: The Expanding Reach of IS 302 (Part 1):2024
One of the most important developments in electrical product compliance is the implementation of the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order linked to IS 302 (Part 1):2024 / IEC 60335-1:2020.
The standard establishes general safety requirements for household and similar electrical appliances. The QCO covers electrical appliances intended for household, commercial or similar applications within the specified voltage limits and excludes appliances that are already covered under another QCO. The scope is extensive.
The BIS product listing includes categories such as:
- Vacuum cleaners and water-suction cleaning appliances
- Cooking ranges, hobs and ovens
- Electric shavers, hair clippers and similar appliances
- Food-processing and kitchen appliances
- Massage appliances
- Humidifiers
- Air-cleaning appliances
- Oral-hygiene appliances
- Whirlpool baths and spas
- Commercial kitchen appliances
- Fabric steamers
- Battery-operated and DC-supplied appliances
- Electric beauty-care appliances
- Personal e-transporters
- Several other household and commercial electrical appliances.
And this is where businesses need to pay attention. The regulatory shift is not simply about a handful of conventional appliances. The framework brings a wide range of products under a common general electrical-safety framework, while products already regulated under other QCOs remain outside its scope.
The BIS’s current upcoming-QCO listing shows 1 October 2026 as the implementation date for the relevant entry covering electrical appliances under IS 302 (Part 1):2024.
Why should manufacturers act now?
A company may manufacture a product that has never traditionally been viewed as a “BIS product.” That does not necessarily mean it falls outside the current regulatory framework.
Manufacturers should therefore conduct a product-by-product applicability assessment rather than relying solely on product names or past market practice.
This becomes particularly important for:
- New product launches
- Imported appliances
- Private-label products
- OEM/ODM arrangements
- Battery-operated electrical products
- Commercial appliances
- Products undergoing design or model changes
At Kar Parivartan, we help businesses determine whether a product falls under a QCO, which Indian Standard applies, what certification route is required and what steps are needed before market entry.
4. From Everyday Flask to Mandatory Compliance: The Insulated Flask QCO
An insulated flask may look like one of the simplest products in the market. From a regulatory perspective, however, it is no longer simply a household commodity.
The Government has brought specified insulated flasks, bottles and containers for domestic use under mandatory BIS certification through the relevant Quality Control Order framework. BIS’s compulsory-certification listing identifies products including IS 17790:2022 – Insulated Flask for Domestic Use, IS 17526:2021 – Domestic Stainless Steel Vacuum Flask/Bottle, and IS 17569:2021 – Insulated Container for Food Storage under this regulatory category.
The 2024 QCO replaced the earlier 2023 order, and a subsequent amendment provided a limited provision for declared stock manufactured or imported before commencement to be sold for up to six months, subject to the specified conditions, including a Chartered Accountant-certified declaration to BIS.
For manufacturers and importers, this illustrates a broader regulatory trend: Products that were once treated primarily as consumer goods can increasingly become subject to mandatory quality and safety requirements.
For businesses, this means that product classification and QCO applicability should be checked before manufacturing or importing, rather than after the product has already entered the market.
5. SP 7:2026: India’s Building Standards Enter a New Chapter
The regulatory changes in 2026 are not limited to consumer products. India has also entered a new phase in its building-standard framework with the establishment of SP 7:2026 – National Building Construction Standards 2026.
Through its notification dated 30 April 2026, BIS established SP 7:2026 and withdrew SP 7:2016, National Building Code of India 2016, on the same date.
The new publication covers a broad range of areas relevant to building design and construction, including building materials, structural design, building services, plumbing, fire and life safety and related construction requirements.
For businesses operating in construction, infrastructure, engineering, building materials and associated supply chains, the development is significant because technical standards are continuously evolving alongside India’s infrastructure needs.
However, businesses should distinguish between a BIS standard being established and its legal enforceability through applicable legislation, building bye-laws or adoption by the relevant authority. The regulatory position for a particular project therefore needs to be assessed against the applicable central, state and local requirements.
For companies involved in regulated building materials, BIS certification requirements under specific QCOs remain a separate and critical compliance consideration.
The October 2026 Compliance Wave Is Approaching
While these developments are important individually, the bigger picture becomes clearer when we look at the upcoming QCO implementation calendar. The official BIS page for “Upcoming QCOs – Notified and Due for Implementation” currently lists a substantial group of products scheduled for implementation from 1 October 2026, including:
- Pipe wrenches
- Open-jaw and ring spanners
- Slugging wrenches
- Combination side-cutting pliers
- Wrought aluminium utensils
- Aluminium cans for beverages
- Specified electrical appliances
- Other products covered by the respective QCOs.
Additional products on the current BIS upcoming-QCO list have implementation dates extending into December 2026, January 2027 and June 2027.
This means October 2026 should not be viewed as a single deadline. It is better understood as part of a continuing expansion of mandatory product-compliance requirements.
For a manufacturer or importer, waiting until the enforcement date can create unnecessary pressure around:
The earlier these steps are assessed, the more effectively potential compliance gaps can be addressed.
What Should Manufacturers and Importers Do Now?
The regulatory environment is becoming too complex for businesses to rely on last-minute certification. If your product portfolio includes items covered by an existing or upcoming QCO, consider the following:
1. Map your products
Identify every product, model and variant manufactured, imported or marketed in India.
2. Check QCO applicability
Review the applicable QCO, Indian Standard, scope, exclusions and amendments instead of relying only on the product’s commercial name.
3. Identify the certification route
Determine whether the product requires BIS ISI certification, CRS registration, FMCS certification or another applicable conformity-assessment mechanism.
4. Assess testing requirements
Check whether the required testing can be completed through the applicable BIS-recognised testing framework and identify any gaps before submitting the application.
5. Review documentation and manufacturing readiness
Product specifications, technical documents, quality-control arrangements, test reports, manufacturing details and other supporting documents should be prepared in accordance with the applicable certification requirements.
6. Monitor regulatory changes
A QCO can be amended, its implementation timeline can change, or additional products can be brought under mandatory certification. Regulatory monitoring should therefore be an ongoing activity.
How Kar Parivartan Can Help
India’s regulatory environment is evolving rapidly, and understanding what applies to your product is often the first compliance challenge.
At Kar Parivartan, we provide structured support for businesses navigating India’s BIS and regulatory framework.
Our BIS services include:
- BIS ISI Certification
- CRS – Compulsory Registration Scheme
- FMCS – Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme
- QCO applicability assessment
- Applicable Indian Standard identification
- Product scope mapping
- Compliance gap assessment
- Testing coordination
- Documentation support
- Factory audit and inspection readiness
- BIS portal filing and application support
- Licence renewal and surveillance assistance
- Regulatory compliance advisory.
Alongside BIS certification, Kar Parivartan also works across EPR compliance and waste-management regulations, helping businesses address regulatory obligations across the product lifecycle.
The objective is simple: Understand the requirement. Prepare before the deadline. Enter the market with confidence.
The New Normal: Compliance Before the Deadline
India’s quality landscape is changing. A five-year Scheme-II licence can reduce repetitive renewal pressure. Expanding QCO coverage can bring previously overlooked products into mandatory certification. EPR requirements are making end-of-life responsibility an operational obligation. And the introduction of SP 7:2026 signals continued evolution in India’s technical standards framework.
The message for manufacturers and importers is clear: Compliance should no longer begin when a deadline arrives. It should begin when a regulatory change is announced. With multiple QCOs scheduled for implementation through 2026 and beyond, businesses that assess their product portfolios early will be better positioned to manage testing, certification, documentation and market-access requirements without unnecessary disruption.
Is your product portfolio ready for the next wave of BIS compliance?
At Kar Parivartan, we help manufacturers, importers and global brands understand their regulatory obligations and build a structured path towards compliance.
Contact Kar Parivartan
Need BIS Certification for HDPE/PP Woven Sacks?
Our experts are ready to help you achieve BIS compliance with a smooth and efficient certification process.
Mobile: 7428718855
Email: bis.sales@karparivartan.com
Kar Parivartan – Your Trusted Partner for BIS Certification & Regulatory Compliance
