India BIS Electrical Appliances QCO: In Force Since 1 Oct
India BIS Electrical Appliances QCO Now in Force: IS 302 (Part 1) Certification for 90 Appliance Types
The India BIS electrical appliances QCO has been in force since 1 October 2026. The Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026, issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as S.O. 1739(E) on 6 April 2026, makes BIS certification to IS 302 (Part 1):2024 mandatory for 90 types of household, commercial and similar appliances. Small and micro enterprises get until 1 January and 1 April 2027.
Background
The order was first issued in September 2024, and its start date has moved more than once since then. The April 2026 version supersedes the 2025 order of the same name and set the start for larger manufacturers at 1 October 2026. It's issued under section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is both the certifying and the enforcing authority.
IS 302 (Part 1):2024 is India's version of IEC 60335-1:2020, the general safety standard for household and similar electrical appliances. The order says the latest version of the Indian Standard applies, so manufacturers should track revisions.
Key Changes in the India BIS Electrical Appliances QCO
The order covers electrical appliances for household, commercial or similar use with a rated voltage up to 250 V for single-phase appliances and 480 V for others. DC-supplied and battery-operated appliances are included. Appliances already covered by another Quality Control Order, or by mandatory BIS certification under another Act, are excluded.
The 90 categories range widely. They include vacuum cleaners, cooking ranges and ovens, kettles and other liquid heaters, coffee makers, food processors, dishwashers, shavers and hair clippers, massage appliances, air cleaners, humidifiers, oral hygiene appliances, skin and beauty care appliances, commercial kitchen equipment and personal e-transporters. Battery-operated versions of vacuum cleaners, shavers, blenders, toothbrushes and air purifiers are listed separately.
Covered goods must conform to IS 302 (Part 1):2024 and carry the BIS Standard Mark under a licence granted through Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. In practice that's the ISI mark route.
Dates depend on the size of the enterprise:
1 October 2026 for enterprises other than micro and small, which covers large and medium manufacturers
1 January 2027 for small enterprises
1 April 2027 for micro enterprises
There are three exemptions. Goods made in India for export are outside the order. Manufacturers can import up to 200 units a year for research and development, as long as they aren't sold and records are kept. And manufacturers that hold a BIS licence, or have applied for one, can keep selling declared stock made or imported before the implementation date for up to six months, once they declare it to BIS.
What This Means for Manufacturers
For larger manufacturers, the deadline has passed. Uncertified covered appliances can't be sold or imported unless one of the exemptions applies, and breaches are punishable under the BIS Act, 2016. Overseas manufacturers need their own BIS licence for each factory, which takes time, so any gap in certification should be closed now.
There's also a newer option. The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 (S.O. 3417(E), 25 June 2026) lists this QCO among those where a company incorporated in India can apply for permission to source covered goods through BIS licences under Scheme-II. Permission depends on a risk assessment by an Implementation Committee, and applications are open for 24 months from 25 June 2026.
Certification Impact Summary
Area | Before | After | Impact level |
Certification | No QCO in force for these appliances | Mandatory BIS licence and Standard Mark to IS 302 (Part 1):2024 | High |
Products | Not covered by a QCO | 90 categories, incl. DC and battery-operated appliances | High |
Large and medium firms | 2025 order not yet in force | In force from 1 October 2026 | High |
Small and micro firms | Not in force | 1 January 2027 and 1 April 2027 | Medium |
Existing stock | Freely saleable | Six months after implementation, if licensed or applied and declared to BIS | Medium |
R&D and exports | Not addressed | Up to 200 R&D units a year exempt; export goods exempt | Low |
Timeline and Required Actions
Key Dates
Date | Milestone |
20 September 2024 | Original QCO issued |
6 April 2026 | QCO 2026 issued (S.O. 1739(E)), superseding the 2025 order |
25 June 2026 | Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 in force |
1 October 2026 | Applies to enterprises other than micro and small |
1 January 2027 | Applies to small enterprises |
1 April 2027 | Applies to micro enterprises |
Required Actions for Manufacturers
Check every appliance you sell in India against the 90 categories and the voltage limits.
Rule out appliances already covered by another QCO, such as water heaters or washing machines.
If you're a larger manufacturer without a licence, apply to BIS now and stop shipping uncertified covered goods.
Declare any pre-implementation stock to BIS so it can be sold within the six-month window.
Plan testing to IS 302 (Part 1):2024 for each product, and track revisions of the standard.
Indian importers should check whether the Transition Facilitation Order route suits them.
Conclusion
The India BIS electrical appliances QCO is now live for large and medium manufacturers, and small and micro firms follow in early 2027. With 90 categories in scope, many brands that never needed BIS certification for small appliances now do. Contact our team for support with BIS licences for your appliances.
