BIS Scheme X Cancelled: What the January 2026 Withdrawal Means for Manufacturers

BIS officially cancelled Scheme X — the Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) scheme — with effect from January 14, 2026. The cancellation was announced via a BIS circular and ends a certification path that had been used by several hundred manufacturers since its introduction. If your products were registered under Scheme X, you must now transition to an alternative BIS certification scheme.

What Was Scheme X?

BIS Scheme X (Self-Declaration of Conformity) was introduced as a lighter-touch certification option that allowed manufacturers to self-declare conformity to Indian Standards without requiring a factory inspection by BIS. It was positioned as a cost-effective route for smaller manufacturers and for product categories where the safety risk was considered lower.

Scheme X was available only for specific IS numbers notified by BIS. Not all product categories were eligible. The scheme required manufacturers to maintain test reports from BIS-recognised labs and submit periodic declarations to BIS, but there was no BIS officer inspection of the factory.

Why Was Scheme X Cancelled?

BIS has not published a detailed public rationale for the cancellation. However, the decision is consistent with broader BIS policy direction in recent years: increasing rigour in product certification through third-party verification, reducing reliance on self-declaration, and aligning India's certification framework more closely with international conformity assessment standards (ISO/IEC 17065).

Market surveillance activities also detected quality failures in some Scheme X-registered products — a self-declaration framework without factory inspection is inherently harder to enforce.

What Happens to Products Already Registered Under Scheme X?

BIS has provided a transition period for existing Scheme X registrations. Key points:

• ›Existing Scheme X registrations are no longer valid from January 14, 2026 — products affixed with Scheme X marks cannot be sold or manufactured after this date without a replacement certification
• ›Manufacturers must apply for ISI Mark (Scheme I) or CRS registration (for electronics products) as applicable to their product category
• ›BIS may accept the original test reports from the Scheme X registration for the new application if they are less than 12 months old and cover all parameters of the current IS edition
• ›Manufacturers who have not yet transitioned should treat this as urgent — selling Scheme X-marked products after the cancellation date is a compliance violation

Action Plan for Affected Manufacturers

• ›1. Identify all products previously registered under Scheme X
• ›2. Confirm the current IS edition and applicable scheme (Scheme I or CRS) for each product
• ›3. Review existing lab test reports — check dates and whether they cover all parameters of the current IS
• ›4. If test reports are outdated or incomplete, arrange retesting at a BIS-recognised lab immediately
• ›5. Submit ISI Mark or CRS applications without delay — Scheme X marks have no grace period after January 14, 2026
• ›6. Update product labels and packaging to remove Scheme X marks and replace with the correct certification mark once the new licence is granted

Impact on Importers

Foreign manufacturers who held Scheme X registrations for export to India are also affected. If your overseas supplier held Scheme X certification for a product category now requiring FMCS, the supplier must apply for FMCS. Given the 6–12 month FMCS timeline, importers sourcing from affected overseas manufacturers face potential supply chain disruption.

Indian importers should audit their supplier's BIS certification status immediately and begin FMCS applications for any supplier whose Scheme X registration is no longer valid.