BIS Standards – Implementations Next Month – September 2026

We regularly publish advance information from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regarding upcoming Quality Control Orders (QCOs) that will soon enter into force. Affected products must hold a BIS certification to be authorized for import and distribution in India. Within the next month, the standard for Linear Alkyl Benzene, among others, will come into effect.

Quality Control Orders (QCOs) make compliance with specific BIS standards mandatory for affected products. They serve to ensure quality, safety, and the protection of human, animal, and plant life, as well as the environment in India.

Below is an overview of the new Quality Control Orders coming into force next month:

Sr. No.	Ministry/ Department	Product	Indian Standard	Enforcement date
1	Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals	Linear Alkyl Benzene	IS 12795:2020	September 30, 2026

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

BIS CRS Update Clarifies Smart and AR Glasses Classification

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has clarified the BIS CRS classification for wearable glasses covered by India’s Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The guidance provides manufacturers, importers and brand owners with more specific information on how audio glasses, smart glasses and extended reality devices should be categorized under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS).

The clarification is particularly relevant because the applicable product category depends on the functions incorporated into the glasses, including wireless audio, cameras and display technologies. Wearable and smart glasses usually require BIS CRS registration in order to be approved for import and sale in India.

BIS Classification Depends on Device Functionality

Under the BIS guidance, Audio Glasses with Bluetooth or other wireless connectivity, microphones, speakers, calling or music functions are classified under the product category “Wireless Earphones and Headphones,” with Audio Glasses as the sub-category. This also includes devices incorporating functions such as AI-based voice assistants.

Smart glasses equipped with cameras are classified according to their imaging capabilities. Devices featuring a camera that captures photographs only fall under the “Digital Camera” product category, with Smart Glasses as the sub-category. If the camera can capture both photographs and videos, the applicable product category is “Video Camera,” again using Smart Glasses as the sub-category. These products may also incorporate the functions typically found in Audio Glasses.

For extended reality functionality, AR Glasses are categorized as Extended Reality Products when they provide an overlay display visible through the lenses. MR Glasses are likewise classified under Extended Reality Products.

BIS has specified several product names within the Extended Reality Products category, including AR Glasses, Other AR Devices, VR Headset, MR Glasses and Other MR Devices.

Separate BIS CRS Licenses and Market Access Implications

The clarification has practical implications for companies placing smart and extended reality glasses on the Indian market. BIS specifies separate product names within the relevant categories, and a separate BIS CRS license is required for each applicable product name identified in the notification.

Manufacturers and importers should therefore determine the correct classification before beginning testing and registration. Features such as audio connectivity, camera functionality and augmented or mixed reality displays can determine which BIS CRS product category and sub-category applies.

Accurate classification at an early stage can help companies select the appropriate testing route and submit the correct BIS registration application. This is particularly important for multifunctional wearable devices, where differences in technical capabilities may result in different classifications and licensing requirements for market access in India.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

India Updates BIS Standard for UPS Equipment Certification

India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued a clarification concerning the standard applicable to UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) equipment under the BIS certification framework. The update, dated 10 October 2025, corrects the designation of IS 16242 (Part 1): 2025 and specifies the IEC standard and amendments that form part of the applicable requirements.

The clarification refers to implementation guidelines previously issued by the BIS Registration Department on 21 August 2025. Manufacturers and suppliers of uninterruptible power supply systems should therefore take the corrected standard designation into account when reviewing product compliance and certification documentation. UPS equipment usually requires BIS certification in order to be approved for import and sale in India.

Corrected Standard Includes IEC Amendments

According to the BIS clarification, the complete standard designation must be read as IS 16242 (Part 1): 2025 / IEC 62040-1: 2017 + AMD1: 2021 + AMD2: 2022 CSV. This replaces the designation IS 16242 (Part 1): 2025 / IEC 62040-1: 2017 stated in the earlier implementation circular.

The correction is significant because it expressly incorporates Amendment 1:2021 and Amendment 2:2022 into the referenced IEC 62040-1 standard. IEC 62040-1 addresses safety requirements for uninterruptible power systems (UPS), making the precise version of the standard relevant for testing and conformity assessment.

BIS also confirmed that all other terms and conditions established in its circular of 21 August 2025 remain unchanged. The October notice therefore serves as a clarification of the applicable standard number rather than a replacement of the broader implementation guidelines.

Implications for BIS Certification and India Market Access

Manufacturers, importers, and other parties responsible for BIS certification of UPS equipment should ensure that their compliance processes refer to the complete corrected standard. In particular, technical documentation, testing arrangements, and communications concerning certification should consistently identify IS 16242 (Part 1): 2025 / IEC 62040-1: 2017 + AMD1: 2021 + AMD2: 2022 CSV where applicable.

Companies with ongoing or planned BIS registration activities should also review the original implementation guidelines from August 2025 together with the October clarification. Since BIS states that the remaining provisions of the earlier circular continue to apply, the correction does not independently modify those other implementation conditions.

Using the correct standard reference can help manufacturers and importers align testing and certification activities with the requirements applicable to UPS equipment entering the Indian market.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

India Announces Migration to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 Under BIS CRS

India has officially confirmed the migration of BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) safety requirements from IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010 and IS 616:2017 to IS/IEC 62368 (Part 1): 2023. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) published the transition through a Gazette notification on 7 November 2025, establishing a new regulatory roadmap for audio/video equipment, information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, and introducing a new product category for Extended Reality (XR) devices. The update aligns India’s product safety framework more closely with the internationally recognized IEC 62368 standard while providing manufacturers with a phased transition period.

The revised standard, IS/IEC 62368 (Part 1): 2023 – Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment – Part 1: Safety Requirements, replaces both IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010 and IS 616:2017 under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. In addition, the notification introduces Extended Reality (XR) products, including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) devices, as the 65th product category covered by the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme. Audio/video and ICT equipment usually requires BIS certification in order to be approved for import and sale in India.

Phased Transition to the New Safety Standard

The notification establishes a concurrent validity period during which both the previous and the new standards may be used. For newly regulated Extended Reality products, compliance with IS/IEC 62368 (Part 1): 2023 will become mandatory from 1 May 2026. For all other products currently certified under IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010 or IS 616:2017, manufacturers holding existing or applying for new BIS licenses may continue using the current standards until 1 November 2028.

After this transition period expires, IS 13252 and IS 616 will be withdrawn completely, leaving IS/IEC 62368 (Part 1): 2023 as the sole applicable safety standard for the affected product categories. This extended implementation timeline reflects discussions between MeitY, industry stakeholders, and certification authorities, providing manufacturers with additional time to prepare for the new requirements.

Implications for Manufacturers and Importers

The migration to IS/IEC 62368 (Part 1): 2023 is intended to simplify compliance by replacing separate safety standards for information technology equipment and audio/video equipment with a single hazard-based standard. The harmonization with IEC 62368 also supports international trade by bringing Indian requirements closer to globally recognized safety practices while ensuring that emerging technologies such as AR, VR, and MR devices are covered by an up-to-date regulatory framework.

Although the transition dates have now been confirmed, MeitY has not yet released detailed migration guidelines for existing and new BIS license holders. Manufacturers, importers, and exporters supplying regulated electronic products to the Indian market should therefore begin assessing the impact of the new standard, review existing product certifications, and monitor forthcoming implementation guidance to ensure a smooth transition before the mandatory compliance deadlines take effect.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.