BIS Requirement for Machinery in India Suspended – Components Still Affected
20. January 2026The Indian government has lifted, with immediate effect, the previously applicable approval requirement for machinery and plant equipment under BIS Scheme X. This is based on a recent decision by the Ministry of Heavy Industries dated 14 January 2026, which officially repeals the “Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024”. The decision was made pursuant to Section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, and is justified on the grounds of public interest. Machinery and plant equipment in particular would have been subject to the announced BIS Scheme X certification requirement. Despite the suspension for complete machinery and plant equipment, the requirements of BIS Schemes I and II remain fully in force for affected components and spare parts. Manufacturers should therefore carefully review all shipments to India for any potential certification obligations for individual parts.
This unexpected change has an immediate impact on ongoing certification projects and leads to temporary legal uncertainty. In recent months, there have already been several short-notice changes to the timeline and requirements relating to machinery safety. Whether and when the topic will be taken up again is currently unclear. A reassessment of the regulatory situation and alignment on the next steps is required.
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