The ISO or International Organization for Standardization is a group created to ensure products are made with the same good quality and utilized the right way, all over the world. It began in Switzerland in 1947. 161 countries are a part of the ISO. Each nation has a group. Similarly in India, there is BIS or Bureau of Indian Standards that ensures products in the country fulfill the requirements of the same standards. On the other hand, NOC is a No Objection Certificate from BIS that shows the particular material does not fall under ‘mandatory certification.’ In this post, you will learn about BIS and NOC in detail. So, let’s get started:
What is BIS?
The BIS serves as the National Standards Body of India, which is responsible for making Indian Standards or IS for all aspects of the economy in India. It evaluates the standardization and conformity of goods/products through certification and testing. BIS creates standards that are used by the government of India, helping in the regulation of trade and commerce. Compliance is compulsory. So, it is important to have a valid BIS registration license.
Cathy Engelbert says, “Our goal is to set the gold standard when it comes to compliance.’’
The focus of BIS registrations is on:
- Reducing health hazards to consumers
- Availability of safe and quality goods
- Safety of the environment
- Safety of plant, animal, and human life
- Promoting quality culture via the adoption of good manufacturing practices
- Prevention of unreliable trade practices
- Training the industry in numerous aspects of testing and standardization
- Control over the production of a variety of goods
- Promoting exports and encouraging substitution of imports
- Minimizing wastage of materials or products
When you receive the BIS registrations, it covers the Product Certification Scheme, the Compulsory Registration Scheme, the Foreign Manufacturer’s Certification Scheme, and the Hall Marking of Precious Metals (Silver and Gold) Scheme.
For BIS registrations, there are some documents required such as
- PCB layout
- Schematic diagram
- User manual
- List of critical components
- Proof of online file submission
- Proof of identity (business license and any other government document)
- CEO-signed application/a letter of authority from the CEO
- Affidavit and undertaking for the approved Indian representative with identity proof of the individual signing an affidavit, if the manufacturer is based out of the country
- Certificate of brand name registration or a trademark application’s copy, if applicable, or an authorization letter from the brand owner
- Test report undertaking
- Form VI and VII
- Original test reports from a designated laboratory, test reports are not more than one month old, and state all relevant requirements for the applicable category
There are many benefits of BIS, which are mentioned below:
- It guarantees quality standards by requiring manufacturers to stick to specific standards throughout the production process.
- The utilization of certain hazardous materials and chemicals has been banned or prohibited under some specified regulations of BIS, which helps in the reduction of environmental risks.
- If your product is BIS certified, then it means that it is recognized for its exceptional performance and reliability, which provides additional authenticity.
- This certification is only granted once the rigorous testing of product samples in BIS-approved labs is done, ensuring high-quality products and thorough inspections of quality.
What is NOC?
NOC is a No Objection Certificate issued by BIS in several different cases. An NOC is needed for those products that don’t meet the list of mandatory certifications, but have similar specifications to an obligatory standard. There are cases, where the product’s code indicates to customs that BIS registrations are needed, but it is not. Additionally, customs authorities can create confusion for products/goods ‘similar’ to those that come under ‘mandatory certification.’ This is why there are avoidable delays in consignment clearance and significant penalties.
But if you want to avoid penalties and delays, a NOC can help you in this case. You need to receive an NOC from BIS, which states that the material is not covered under ‘obligatory certification.’ BIS evaluates on a case-by-case basis with the help of product specifications, test reports, declarations, and other supporting documents. To get an NOC, you need to pay a nominal fee along with the submission of some important documents such as a Bill of lading and landing, packing lists, invoices, and many others.
The amount of time it takes to provide you with a NOC is around 2 months. A NOC is given for each import of the same goods/products. You need to present an NOC with the freight documents every time you import. However, if you do not have an NOC, you should be prepared to start discussions with customs and answer their queries.
Conclusion
BIS certification is vital for manufacturers, but in case they have products that fall under no obligatory certification category, they can apply for NOC that will be issued within 2 months.