QCO 2026: BIS Certification Now Mandatory for 90 Electrical Appliances from October 1

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, notified the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026 on April 6, 2026. The order requires manufacturers and importers of 90 categories of household, commercial, and industrial electrical appliances to obtain BIS certification under the applicable Indian Standard (IS 302 Part 1: 2024) before they can manufacture, sell, import, or stock these products in India.

The effective date for general manufacturers and importers is October 1, 2026. This is one of the most significant QCO notifications in recent years, affecting a large segment of the consumer appliances industry.

Which Products Are Covered?

The QCO covers a wide range of household and commercial electrical appliances that operate on supply voltages up to 250V for single-phase and 480V for multi-phase. Key product categories include:

• ›Ceiling fans, table fans, pedestal fans, wall fans, and exhaust fans
• ›Electric geysers (water heaters) and storage water heaters
• ›Room heaters (radiant, convection, fan heaters)
• ›Electric irons (dry and steam)
• ›Electric kettles and water boilers
• ›Rice cookers, food processors, and blenders
• ›Electric toasters and sandwich makers
• ›Hair dryers and hair straighteners
• ›Vacuum cleaners
• ›Electric shavers and trimmers
• ›Air coolers (desert coolers)
• ›Immersion heaters and water heating rods
• ›Electric blankets and heating pads
• ›Commercial catering equipment (fryers, grills, ovens)

The Applicable Indian Standard: IS 302 Part 1: 2024

The Indian Standard governing this QCO is IS 302 (Part 1): 2024 — Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances. This IS is aligned with IEC 60335-1: 2020, the international safety standard for electrical household appliances.

The 2024 edition of IS 302 Part 1 updates the previous version to include more comprehensive safety requirements around thermal protection, insulation, resistance to moisture, stability, mechanical strength, and electromagnetic interference. Manufacturers should review the updated standard carefully — particularly if they were previously testing against an older IS 302 edition.

What Manufacturers Must Do

If your products fall under this QCO, here is the action plan:

• ›1. Confirm applicability — verify your specific product models and HS codes against the QCO schedule
• ›2. Identify the IS number — all products under this QCO require certification under IS 302 (Part 1): 2024
• ›3. Domestic manufacturers — apply for ISI Mark (Scheme I). The process takes 10–18 weeks minimum. Apply immediately.
• ›4. Foreign manufacturers exporting to India — apply for FMCS (Scheme II). The process takes 6–12 months. If you have not started, you are already behind schedule.
• ›5. Lab testing — get samples tested at a BIS-recognised lab for all parameters under IS 302 Part 1: 2024
• ›6. Importers — coordinate with your overseas suppliers to begin FMCS; consider certified alternative suppliers as a bridge if yours cannot certify before October 1

Exemptions

The QCO 2026 includes the following specific exemptions:

• ›Products already covered under other QCOs — to avoid duplicate certification requirements
• ›Goods manufactured in India exclusively for export
• ›R&D imports of up to 200 units per year, provided they are not sold commercially
• ›The government has not announced an extended grace period for MSMEs as of the date of this article — watch for updates

Penalties for Non-Compliance

From October 1, 2026, selling, importing, or stocking covered appliances without a valid BIS licence is a punishable offence under the BIS Act, 2016:

• ›Fine up to ₹5 lakh for first-time offences
• ›Fine up to ₹10 lakh for repeat offences
• ›Imprisonment up to 2 years in cases of deliberate fraud
• ›Customs authorities will block import clearance for non-certified products
• ›E-commerce platforms are required to de-list non-certified products

Act Now — The Clock is Running

With only 5 months until the October 1, 2026 effective date, manufacturers and importers of electrical appliances should treat this as an urgent compliance matter. The FMCS route alone takes 6–12 months — meaning foreign manufacturers who have not yet begun the process may miss the deadline even if they start today.

Complyr can assess your product portfolio, confirm QCO applicability, and begin the certification process immediately. Contact us for a same-day assessment.