An Indian importer places an order for 200 tonnes of hot-rolled structural steel after confirming that the overseas supplier has a BIS licence. When the shipment reaches India, the documents reveal that the licence covers a different manufacturing facility and does not include the imported grade and thickness. The shipment can be held, re-exported or subjected to additional regulatory scrutiny even though the supplier has a genuine licence.
This is why BIS ISI Certification for Steel Products cannot be verified merely by checking whether an ISI logo or licence number exists. Businesses must confirm the applicable Indian Standard, Quality Control Order, factory address, product grade, dimensional range, licence validity, marking method and test certificate before production or shipment.
For most notified steel products, the governing framework is the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 and the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, as amended in 2025 and 2026.
The Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 was issued as S.O. 3716(E) on 29 August 2024. It superseded the earlier February 2024 order and contains 151 entries in Schedule 1 and seven categories in Schedule 2.
Schedule 1 products must conform to the corresponding Indian Standard and bear the Standard Mark under a BIS Scheme I licence. The QCO also requires each consignment to be accompanied by a test certificate bearing the Standard Mark and issued by a BIS-certified manufacturer.
The QCO makes BIS the certification and enforcement authority. Steel manufactured domestically exclusively for export to a foreign buyer’s specification is excluded, subject to the conditions stated in the order. This export exclusion should not be treated as permission to divert the material into the Indian domestic market.
| Regulation | Requirement | Deadline or validity | Applicable to | Principal risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIS Act, 2016 – Sections 16 and 17 | Compliance with notified standard and controlled use of Standard Mark | From applicable QCO date | Manufacturers, importers, sellers and distributors | Seizure, prosecution and market prohibition |
| BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018 – Scheme I | Factory-based product certification and Standard Mark licence | Before manufacture, import or sale of notified product | Domestic and foreign manufacturers | Application rejection or licence suspension |
| Steel QCO 2024 – S.O. 3716(E) | Conformity to listed IS, Standard Mark and consignment test certificate | Immediate or entry-specific implementation date | Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 products | Production or customs disruption |
| Steel QCO Amendment 2025 – S.O. 5134(E) | Temporary deferment of selected Schedule 1 entries | 1 or 3 years from 20 Nov 2025 | Listed product entries only | Incorrect assumption that all products are exempt |
| Steel QCO Amendment 2026 – S.O. 3300(E) | Further deferment of five entries | Entry-specific | Five listed standards only | Applying an outdated compliance date |
| BIS GoL Guidelines dated 25 Feb 2026 | Updated application, test and inspection procedure | Current Scheme I applications | Manufacturers seeking a licence | Delays from incomplete evidence |
The ITC(HS) codes in the QCO are expressly described as generic and indicative. Therefore, a customs tariff code alone should not determine applicability. Technical description, manufacturing process, grade, dimensions, intended use and relevant Indian Standard must be assessed together.
The 20 November 2025 amendment suspended enforcement for 42 Schedule 1 entries for three years from Gazette publication. It suspended enforcement for another 13 entries for one year. These relaxations apply only to the serial numbers named in S.O. 5134(E); they do not suspend the entire Steel QCO.
The 2026 amendment was dated 20 June 2026 and published in the Gazette on 22 June 2026. It introduced the following additional deferments:
| Schedule 1 entry | Indian Standard | Product | Current deferment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | IS 2879:1998 | Mild steel for metal arc welding electrodes | Not operative for 3 years from Gazette publication |
| 129 | IS 5518:1996 | Steels for die blocks for drop forging | Not operative for 3 years from Gazette publication |
| 51 | IS 5522:2014 | Stainless steel sheets and strips for utensils | Not operative until 31 March 2027 |
| 52 | IS 6911:2017 | Stainless steel plate, sheet and strip | Not operative until 31 March 2027 |
| 53 | IS 15997:2012 | Low-nickel austenitic stainless steel sheet and strip for utensils and kitchen appliances | Not operative until 31 March 2027 |
A deferment is not the same as cancellation of an Indian Standard. Businesses should keep the manufacturing facility and testing system ready before the revised enforcement date. They should also confirm that another product-specific QCO does not independently apply. Official 2026 amendment
Key compliance principles are:
BIS ISI certification becomes mandatory when the product falls within the technical scope of a standard listed in an applicable QCO and the implementation date has become effective. Domestic manufacturers require a Scheme I licence for the actual manufacturing location.
Foreign manufacturers exporting notified steel products to India must apply under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. They must nominate an Authorized Indian Representative and undergo assessment of the foreign manufacturing facility. From 1 June 2026, BIS accepts FMCS grant applications only through the Manakonline portal.
CRS is generally not the route for primary steel products under the Steel QCO. Importers should not file a CRS application merely because their business involves imports. The certification route is determined by the QCO and conformity-assessment scheme, not by the applicant’s commercial role.
Common standards include:
| Product | Indian Standard | Typical compliance focus | Current observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel sheets | IS 277:2018 | Chemistry, coating mass, tensile properties, bend test and dimensions | Scheme I applicable |
| Structural steel | IS 2062:2011 | Grade, chemistry, yield/tensile properties, elongation and dimensional scope | Scheme I applicable |
| TMT bars and reinforcement steel | IS 1786:2008 | Chemistry, tensile properties, elongation, bend/rebend and nominal size | Sizes below 8 mm excluded in QCO entry |
| Cold-reduced carbon steel sheet and strip | IS 513 Parts 1 and 2:2016 | Grade, mechanical properties, surface and dimensions | Separate scope assessment required |
| Hot-rolled carbon steel sheet, plate and strip | IS 1079:2017 | Chemistry, mechanical properties and dimensions | Scheme I applicable |
| Carbon steel billets, blooms and slabs | IS 2830:2012 | Cast chemistry, dimensions, surface and traceability | Scheme I applicable |
| Stainless steel plate, sheet and strip | IS 6911:2017 | Grade chemistry, mechanical properties, finish and dimensions | Enforcement deferred until 31 Mar 2027 |
Before applying, manufacturers should establish:
The manufacturer must apply through Manakonline using the prescribed Form V and supporting technical documents. Separate applications are generally required for different products or Indian Standards. A separate application is also required for the same product manufactured at a different factory.
The February 2026 grant guidelines provide two processing options. Option 1 involves factory assessment and sample testing. All foreign-manufacturer applications are processed under Option 1. Option 2 is available only for designated domestic product categories and requires conforming test reports from accepted third-party laboratories.
BIS expects Option 1 applications to be completed within 90 days and Option 2 applications within 30 days when documentation, factory assessment and product conformity are satisfactory at the first instance. These are conditional processing expectations, not guaranteed approvals. BIS grant guidelines
| Step | Authority or party | Expected timeline | Principal documents | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Applicability assessment | Manufacturer/compliance team | 3-7 working days | Product specification, process, grade, size and HS code | Wrong IS or QCO mapping |
| 2. Product Manual gap assessment | Manufacturer | 1-3 weeks | Test equipment list, calibration records and process controls | Factory not inspection-ready |
| 3. Product testing | BIS-accepted laboratory/factory | Product-specific | Test request, sample details and complete test report | Failed or partial test report |
| 4. Online application | BIS/Manakonline | 1-3 working days after readiness | Form V and self-evaluation report | Application not recorded |
| 5. Document scrutiny | BIS Branch Office | Case-specific | Factory, technical and quality documents | Clarification delay |
| 6. Factory inspection | BIS | Normally 1 day in India; 2 days overseas | Originals, test facilities, production and QC records | Repeat inspection |
| 7. Sample testing and review | BIS-recognised laboratory | Product-specific | Sealed sample and counter-sample | Scope restriction or rejection |
| 8. Licence grant | BIS | Option 1: expected within 90 days; Option 2: 30 days | Fee payment and conformity evidence | Licence not granted until closure |
For Option 2, the latest submitted product test report should generally be no more than 90 days old. Where multiple reports are used, the oldest should not exceed 180 days. Foreign applicants cannot use Option 2.
The document set should demonstrate that the applicant is the genuine manufacturer and can consistently produce steel conforming to the selected Indian Standard. A trading company, importer or brand owner cannot substitute its commercial documents for evidence relating to the manufacturing facility.
BIS officers verify important records during the factory visit. Discrepancies between the online submission and factory records can lead to queries, repeat inspection or rejection.
Typical documents include:
Steel certification testing is standard-specific. A report covering only chemical composition is normally insufficient where the Indian Standard also prescribes mechanical, dimensional, surface, coating or performance requirements.
Testing must correspond to the varieties requested in the licence scope. BIS grouping guidelines determine which representative grade, size or thickness must be selected for testing. Selecting an easier sample that does not represent the proposed scope can result in a restricted licence.
Common testing areas include:
For example, the BIS Product Manual for IS 277:2018 specifies two samples of 0.5 m × 0.5 m for mechanical tests. For chemical testing, it specifies five pieces of 5 cm × 5 cm or 50 grams of drillings. It also covers chemical composition, zinc-coating mass, tensile properties, bend testing, finish and dimensions. These quantities are specific to IS 277 and should not be applied automatically to another steel standard. IS 277 Product Manual
The BIS factory inspection is a capability and conformity assessment. The officer verifies whether the manufacturing process, production controls, laboratory arrangements and technical personnel match the information declared in the application.
Under the 2026 guidelines, the visit normally lasts one day for an Indian manufacturing unit and two days for a foreign unit. Additional time may be required where extensive factory testing or multiple production stages must be witnessed.
For bulky products such as steel plates, sheets and pipes, dimensional measurements and tests that cannot practically be conducted after dispatching the complete product may be witnessed at the factory. If non-conformity is observed during factory testing, BIS may decline to draw the third-party sample and require corrective action followed by another chargeable inspection.
The inspection normally covers:
A BIS licence does not automatically cover every product manufactured by the licence holder. The permitted grades, sizes, dimensions, coating classes and other varieties are defined in the scope of the licence.
The Standard Mark must be used only on conforming production within that approved scope. The marking location – such as on the product, bundle, package, coil tag or label – must follow the relevant Indian Standard and Product Manual.
The Steel QCO requires every Schedule 1 consignment to be accompanied by a test certificate bearing the Standard Mark and issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. The test certificate should remain traceable to the batch, heat, cast, grade, size and quantity supplied.
Manufacturers must therefore ensure that:
BIS specifies an application fee of ₹1,000 and an inspection fee of ₹7,000 per man-day for domestic product-certification applications. An annual licence fee of ₹1,000 and the applicable minimum marking fee are payable before or upon licence grant. Laboratory testing, officer travel, sample transport and professional preparation costs are additional and product-specific. BIS Product Certification FAQs
A Scheme I licence may initially be granted for a period of up to two years. Renewal can be sought through Manakonline and may be granted for a period of up to five years, subject to production details, marking fees, compliance history and surveillance status.
Businesses should budget for:
An incomplete application may be rejected if samples are not offered, factory facilities are inadequate, testing fails or the manufacturer does not close BIS queries. After licence grant, BIS can conduct surprise factory surveillance and obtain factory or market samples for independent testing.
Under the February 2026 guidelines, a non-conforming verification sample under Option 2 can result in immediate licence suspension. If the licensee does not communicate corrective action and offer improved samples within 30 days, cancellation proceedings may be initiated.
A steel importer faces an additional commercial risk: a licence may be valid but still not cover the exact product, grade, dimension or manufacturing location in the shipment.
Potential consequences include:
For contravention of Section 17, Section 29(3) of the BIS Act provides imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh for a first contravention and at least ₹5 lakh for subsequent contraventions. The fine may extend to ten times the value of the affected goods. The offence under this provision is cognizable. Company officers responsible for the business can also face liability under Section 30. BIS Act, 2016
Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, CPCB portal suspension and environmental compensation are not the applicable penalty mechanisms for this BIS steel-certification subject.
On 8 April 2025, BIS carried out search-and-seizure operations at K J Steel Rolling Mills and Bhawani Shankar Castings Pvt. Ltd. in Jalandhar. According to the official PIB release, finished and semi-finished steel products were seized after the units were found manufacturing and selling steel products without a valid BIS Certification Mark.
The release stated that action was being initiated under the BIS Act, 2016 and referred to prosecution and the minimum ₹2 lakh penalty framework. This demonstrates that enforcement is not confined to customs checkpoints or imported products. Domestic production, storage and sale can also be inspected. PIB enforcement release
Practical lessons for manufacturers are:
BIS ISI Certification for Steel Products is a factory-specific, product-specific and scope-specific approval. A correct IS number alone does not establish compliance. The manufacturer must demonstrate production capability, testing arrangements, quality controls, product conformity, correct marking and ongoing traceability.
The 2025 and 2026 amendments have deferred enforcement for selected entries, but they have not removed the broader Steel QCO framework. Manufacturers and importers should assess the exact Schedule entry, Indian Standard, grade, dimensions, factory address and implementation date before committing production or shipment.
Early preparation is generally less expensive than failed testing, repeat inspection, customs detention or production stoppage. A structured technical file, inspection-ready laboratory and accurately defined licence scope provide the strongest foundation for timely approval and uninterrupted market access.
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