BEE star labelling and BIS CRS registration are two separate approvals that many electronics products need at the same time. The BEE star label, from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, shows how energy-efficient an appliance is compared with others in its category. CRS, the Compulsory Registration Scheme of the Bureau of Indian Standards, shows that a notified electronic product has been tested to an Indian Standard, mainly for safety, and registered with BIS. An LED bulb or a television sold in India needs both: an R-number from BIS and a star label with a QR code from BEE.
Our BIS CRS registration and BEE star rating registration services cover both.
BEE vs CRS at a glance
| BEE star label | BIS CRS registration | |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power | Bureau of Indian Standards, Ministry of Consumer Affairs |
| Made compulsory by | BEE’s mandatory appliance list under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 | Compulsory registration orders, e.g. MeitY’s 2021 Order and MNRE’s 2017 Order for solar |
| What it shows | Energy performance: star level, energy figure, label series | Conformity with the Indian Standard, mainly safety |
| Mark | Star label with QR code | Standard Mark with IS number and R-number |
| Who holds it | Permittee: manufacturer, importer, OEM or brand owner | Manufacturer; foreign manufacturers through an Authorised Indian Representative |
| Testing | BEE-recognised laboratory, to the BEE schedule’s test method | BIS-recognised laboratory, to the Indian Standard |
| Granted per | Brand and model | Product and brand, with models listed in scope |
| Portal | beestarlabel.com | crsbis.in |
| Verify with | BEE Star Label app | BIS Care app, “Verify R-No under CRS” |
Products that need both
At the time of writing, these products appear on both BIS’s Scheme-II list and BEE’s lists:
| Product | CRS standard | BEE status |
|---|---|---|
| LED lamps | IS 16102 (Part 1) | Mandatory |
| Televisions | IS/IEC 62368-1 | Mandatory (colour and UHD televisions) |
| Grid-connected solar inverters | IS 16270 | Mandatory |
| Induction hobs | IS 302 (Part 2/Sec 6) | Mandatory from 1 January 2027 |
| Microwave ovens | IS 302-2-25 | Voluntary |
| Laptops and notebooks | IS/IEC 62368-1 | Voluntary |
| Crystalline silicon solar PV modules | IS 14286 and IS/IEC 61730 | Voluntary |
| UPS and inverters | IS 16242 (Part 1) | Voluntary (solid-state inverters) |
Where BEE is voluntary, CRS is still a legal requirement and the star label is a commercial choice. Many appliances, such as fans, ACs and refrigerators, need a BEE label together with an ISI licence instead of CRS; see BEE vs BIS.
Example: an imported LED bulb
For a 9 W LED bulb made overseas and sold in India, a typical approval set is:
- BIS CRS against IS 16102 (Part 1), in the overseas manufacturer’s name, with an Authorised Indian Representative. The bulb carries the Standard Mark, “IS 16102 (Part 1)” and the R-number.
- BEE star label under the mandatory LED lamp schedule, registered by the permittee (often the importer or brand owner), with the QR code required for lamps above 5 W.
- LMPC registration for the importer and the Legal Metrology declarations on the pack. See Legal Metrology vs BIS.
- EPR for e-waste, where the product’s EEE code is listed in Schedule I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. Check the schedule for your lamp type; see EPR under the E-Waste Rules.
Note that BEE has advised upgraded star rating tables for LED lamps with effect from 1 January 2027, so plan label stock around that date.
Testing: two different reports
The two approvals rarely share a test report:
- CRS needs a test report to every requirement of the Indian Standard, from a laboratory recognised by BIS for that standard, filed within 90 days of issue.
- BEE needs an energy performance test to the method specified for the appliance category, from a BEE-recognised laboratory.
Some laboratories hold both recognitions for products like LED lamps, which saves on sample logistics. For lamps, LM-79 and LM-80 photometric data often support both the product design and export buyers; see our LM-79 and LM-80 testing page.
Which to apply for first
Plan CRS first. A CRS-notified product cannot be imported, sold or distributed without the R-number, whatever its star rating, and consignments without it can be held at customs. BEE registration can run in parallel once the model and brand are fixed, but each brand is registered separately on the BEE portal, so a model sold under two brands needs two BEE brand registrations and, under CRS, a separate registration for each brand unless the brand owner is the same.
How to check both on a product
- R-number. In the BIS Care app, open Verify R-No under CRS and enter the eight digits. Check the manufacturer, brand and model. See how to check a BIS registration number.
- Star label. Scan the QR code with the BEE Star Label app and match the brand, model, star level and label series. See BEE full form and star rating meaning.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech is a private compliance consultancy, independent of BIS and BEE. We plan testing for both approvals, file the CRS application and the BEE company, brand and model registrations, and check labels before launch. Aaditech has been appointed by BEE as an Independent Agency for Monitoring and Evaluation, and our team includes former BIS officers. See our BIS CRS registration and BEE star rating registration services.