What is the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme?
FMCS is the BIS mechanism that lets a manufacturing facility located outside India obtain a BIS licence — the same ISI Mark licence a domestic factory would hold — directly in the name of the overseas manufacturing unit. It exists because BIS licensing was originally built around domestic factories, and FMCS extends that same licensing structure to foreign manufacturing sites wanting to sell notified products into India.
FMCS and the Authorised Indian Representative
Even under FMCS, a foreign manufacturer still needs an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) — an India-based entity that liaises with BIS on the manufacturer's behalf and carries certain compliance responsibilities. The difference is that the licence itself is granted to the foreign manufacturing unit rather than to an Indian licensee producing the same product locally, which matters for manufacturers who want the certification tied directly to their own factory and brand.
Who typically applies through FMCS
Overseas manufacturers exporting BIS-notified products to India — electronics, electrical goods, and other categories under compulsory certification — apply through FMCS when they want an ongoing, factory-specific licence rather than a one-off registration. It's most relevant for manufacturers planning sustained exports to India rather than a single shipment.
Documentation and requirements
Expect to provide manufacturing process documentation, in-house quality control records, product test reports, and details establishing your AIR relationship. Because the applicant is outside India, communication and document turnaround with BIS typically takes longer than for a domestic applicant, so building in extra time for each documentation round is worth planning for.
The FMCS certification process
The process follows the same broad shape as domestic ISI licensing: applicability and standard confirmation, documentation submission, sample testing (often requiring samples to be sent to or tested via a BIS-recognised lab), a factory inspection at the overseas manufacturing site, and licence grant — followed by ongoing surveillance to maintain the licence.
What to prepare before applying
Confirm which Indian Standard applies to your specific product before starting, line up your AIR relationship early since BIS will expect it in place during the application, and budget realistic time for the overseas factory inspection to be scheduled and conducted — this is usually the step that determines your overall timeline.
FAQs
Is FMCS the same as CRS registration for foreign manufacturers?
No — FMCS is the route to a factory-specific ISI licence for products under compulsory licensing, while CRS is a separate, registration-based scheme for notified electronics/IT products. Which one applies depends on your product category, not on the fact that you manufacture abroad.
Can TechbyDR Services manage the AIR relationship for an FMCS application?
Yes — we support foreign manufacturers with AIR requirements and manage FMCS applications end-to-end, including coordinating factory inspection logistics.
This article is general information about BIS/NABL compliance, not legal or regulatory advice. Requirements change — confirm current applicability for your specific product before acting.
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FMCS – Foreign Manufacturers Certification
BIS licensing for manufacturers based outside India to use the ISI Mark.