BIS Compliance News · 16 December 2025
In-house laboratory no longer compulsory for running a BIS product licence
The Bureau of Indian Standards (Central Marks Department-I) issued a circular, Ref. CMD-I/2:4:1, dated 16 December 2025, stating that manufacturers operating BIS product certification are no longer required to maintain an in-house laboratory. The circular takes effect immediately and replaces the earlier circular of the same number dated 16 July 2024.
Instead of an own lab, licensees may use shared testing resources such as a common facility, a cluster-based testing facility, or sub-contract testing to outside laboratories. An outside lab can be a BIS recognised or empanelled laboratory, or any laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025.
BIS has also clarified that the scheme of inspection and testing in its product manuals is recommendatory. Manufacturers may declare their own Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) and follow it to keep products in line with the relevant Indian Standard.
The relaxation does not apply to DPIIT/PESO-regulated products under pre-dispatch or lot inspection, cement products regulated by the DPIIT Cement Desk, food products, protective helmets for two-wheeler riders, and products where certification runs on a factory-testing basis under product-specific guidelines.
Who is affected
Indian manufacturers holding or applying for an ISI (Scheme-I) licence, especially MSMEs that found the cost of a full in-house lab a barrier.
What to do
- Check whether your product falls in one of the excluded categories before planning to close or scale down your in-house lab.
- If you switch to outside testing, put a written arrangement in place with a BIS recognised/empanelled or ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab and keep the records ready for BIS surveillance.
- Document your own Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) showing what you will test, how often and where.
Related guides
BIS Compliance News summarises official notifications in plain language. It is general information, not legal or regulatory advice — always confirm the current text of the order or notice, linked above, before acting.