For overseas manufacturers, BIS certification is often treated as a formality that comes after product development and distributor onboarding. In reality, the choice between FMCS and CRS quietly defines your India entry timeline, cost exposure, and regulatory risk.
Many brands only realize this after facing rejection, re-testing, or customs delays. By then, distributors lose confidence and launch plans stall. This section-by-section breakdown is meant to help you choose the right route before filing, not fix mistakes later.
BIS does not follow a one-size-fits-all compliance model. Indian regulators distinguish between products that can cause public safety or infrastructure risks and products that fall under standardized consumer electronics safety norms.
This distinction is the foundation of FMCS and CRS.
From a regulatory lens, BIS is answering two different questions:
This is why the routes exist separately and are not interchangeable.
What this means for businesses
FMCS is designed for products where manufacturing consistency and process control are critical to safety. Under this scheme, BIS certifies the foreign manufacturing unit itself, not just the finished product.
Unlike CRS, FMCS treats the factory as part of the compliance ecosystem. BIS wants assurance that quality is maintained batch after batch, not just in a lab-tested sample.
Under FMCS, BIS evaluates:
Only after this evaluation does BIS grant permission to use the ISI Mark.
Key implications for overseas manufacturers
FMCS generally applies to:
Business impact
CRS was introduced to support fast-moving industries where product models change frequently, especially in electronics and IT hardware.
Instead of evaluating the factory, BIS focuses on whether a specific product model meets Indian safety standards through lab testing.
This approach balances consumer safety with ease of doing business.
Under CRS, the approval process centers around:
There is typically no factory inspection unless BIS raises specific concerns.
Key implications for overseas manufacturers
CRS typically applies to:
Business impact
Choosing between FMCS and CRS is less about documentation and more about how you plan to operate in India.
Key differences that affect decision-making
What businesses should evaluate
One of the biggest misconceptions is that manufacturers can freely choose between FMCS and CRS. In reality, BIS notifications and product standards decide this first.
Only after confirming applicability should a strategy be built.
Critical checks before applying
Skipping this evaluation is the fastest way to waste time and fees.
FMCS involves:
While the initial cost is higher, FMCS becomes efficient when:
CRS appears economical initially, but costs increase due to:
This becomes a concern for brands with aggressive SKU expansion.
We often see overseas manufacturers start with CRS to “test the market.” As product demand grows, BIS scrutiny increases, especially when products drift into ISI-notified categories.
The result is usually:
These issues are preventable with early route planning.
Even experienced global brands make avoidable mistakes during India entry.
Frequent issues we see
These mistakes often escalate into customs holds or DGFT queries.
Green Permits approaches BIS compliance as a market-entry strategy, not a filing task.
We help manufacturers:
This proactive approach saves time, cost, and regulatory stress.
FMCS and CRS serve different purposes. Problems arise only when the wrong route is chosen.
FMCS suits manufacturers building a long-term India presence with safety-critical products.
CRS suits brands prioritizing speed and flexibility in electronics markets.
The key is not speed alone — it is getting it right the first time.
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📧 wecare@greenpermits.in
