In India, bicycle reflectors, tyres, tubes, lithium batteries, chargers and metal water bottles need BIS certification today. Complete bicycles need a BIS Certificate of Conformity for their reflectors. Bicycle helmets, cycling gloves, ordinary cycling apparel and most mechanical parts do not need BIS, because no Quality Control Order covers them. A draft Bicycle (Quality Control) Order, 2026 would make the ISI mark compulsory for complete bicycles once it is notified.
Bicycle products and BIS at a glance
| Product | BIS needed? | Standard and order |
|---|---|---|
| Complete bicycles | Certificate of Conformity for reflectors now; full ISI licence proposed | Clause 4.2.2 of IS 10613:2023 (Scheme-IV); draft Bicycle QCO 2026 |
| Retro-reflective devices (reflectors) | Yes, ISI mark | IS/ISO 6742-2:2015, Bicycles - Retro Reflective Devices QCO |
| Bicycle tyres | Yes, ISI mark | IS 2414, S.O. 5323(E) |
| Bicycle tubes | Yes, ISI mark | IS 2415, S.O. 5323(E) |
| Lithium batteries in lights, computers and e-bikes | Yes, CRS registration | IS 16046 |
| Chargers, USB adaptors, power banks | Yes, CRS registration | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Metal water bottles and vacuum flasks | Yes, ISI mark | IS 17803, IS 17526 |
| Children’s bicycles | Proposed under the draft QCO; the smallest may be toys | IS 15533 (draft); IS 9873 Toys QCO |
| Cycling shoes | Check | IS 15844 sports footwear, Footwear QCO |
| Hi-vis vests and jackets | Check | IS 15809, Protective Textiles QCO |
| Chains | Likely not; check | IS 2403 roller chain QCO covers industrial chains |
| Workshop tools | Spanners, wrenches and pliers only | Hand Tools QCO |
| Bicycle helmets | No | IS 4151 covers motor-vehicle helmets only |
| Cycling gloves | No | No order |
| Apparel, eyewear, bags, saddles, handlebars, stems, grips, pedals, frames, forks, wheels, hand pumps, locks | No | No order |
Reflectors: the oldest bicycle QCO
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued the Bicycles - Retro Reflective Devices (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (S.O. 2290(E), 7 July 2020), in force from 1 January 2021. It has two parts:
- Reflectors must conform to IS/ISO 6742-2:2015 and carry the ISI mark under a BIS licence (Scheme-I).
- Bicycles must meet the reflector requirement of IS 10613 under a BIS Certificate of Conformity (Scheme-IV).
The order was replaced in 2021 (S.O. 2028(E)), amended in December 2021 (S.O. 5400(E)), replaced again by the 2023 order (S.O. 882(E), 23 February 2023, with corrigendum S.O. 1441(E)) and amended in October 2024 (S.O. 4569(E)). The 2024 amendment added exemptions for a limited number of reflectors imported for research and development and for reflectors used in bicycles made for export, subject to conditions. BIS’s Scheme-IV list now cites clause 4.2.2 of IS 10613:2023 as the essential requirement for bicycles.
Tyres and tubes
The Cycle and Rickshaw Tyres and Tubes (Quality Control) Order, 2023 (S.O. 5323(E), 11 December 2023) makes two standards compulsory:
- IS 2414:2005, cycle and rickshaw pneumatic tyres, and
- IS 2415:2015, cycle rubber tubes (moulded or jointed).
It came into force six months after publication in the Gazette, with nine months for small enterprises and twelve for micro enterprises. Goods made in India for export are exempt. Replacement tyres and tubes sold separately must carry the ISI mark. Check each tyre size and construction, including tubeless and high-pressure road tyres, against the scope of IS 2414.
Batteries, chargers and electronics
Rechargeable lights, bike computers, electronic shifting, heated clothing and e-bikes usually contain lithium cells. Sealed secondary cells and batteries for portable applications need registration under IS 16046 through BIS’s Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). Power banks and power adaptors for IT equipment are separate CRS entries under IS/IEC 62368-1, so a charger supplied in the box needs its own registration. Products with Bluetooth or other radios may also need WPC equipment type approval. Electrically heated clothing and gloves have also needed the ISI mark since 1 October 2026, under the household electrical appliances order (S.O. 1739(E)).
Products to check case by case
- Cycling shoes. Sports footwear under IS 15844 (Parts 1 to 3) is compulsory under the Footwear made from Leather and other materials (Quality Control) Order. Whether a cleated cycling shoe falls within IS 15844 depends on its construction, so check each model against the standard.
- Children’s bicycles and balance bikes. The draft Bicycle QCO 2026 lists IS 15533, safety requirements for bicycles for young children. The smallest bicycles can also fall under the toy safety standard IS 9873, which is compulsory under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020.
- Hi-vis vests and jackets. High-visibility warning clothing under IS 15809:2017 is compulsory under the Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022. The standard is aimed at work wear for construction, road work and emergency services. Ordinary cycling apparel with reflective details is outside it, but anything sold as hi-vis safety wear needs checking.
- Chains. The Precision Roller and Bush Chains (Quality Control) Order, 2023 covers IS 2403 (ISO 606) industrial transmission chains. Bicycle chains are made to a different international standard, ISO 9633, so they are likely outside the order. Confirm before import.
- Workshop tools. The Hand Tools (Quality Control) Order covers specific spanners, wrenches and pliers. A bicycle cone spanner can fall within it. Multi-tools and hex-key sets generally do not.
How BIS works for imported bicycle products
BIS grants licences to the factory, not to the importer. For products made outside India, the overseas manufacturer applies under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme for each factory, samples are tested in India, BIS inspects the factory, and the manufacturer appoints an Authorised Indian Representative. Goods routed through a warehouse in another country must still come from the licensed factory and carry the mark.
For CRS products, the manufacturer registers each model on the CRS portal using a test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory in India.
A checklist for bicycle brands and importers
- List every product with its description, HS code, materials, any battery, and the factory name and address.
- Sort the list into the three groups in the table above: needs BIS, check, and no BIS.
- Start the long-lead items first. ISI licences for overseas factories take the longest, because they need testing in India and a factory inspection.
- Keep non-applicability notes for products that share an HS heading with covered products, such as bicycle helmets and motorcycle helmets.
- Track the draft Bicycle QCO 2026. Once it is notified, every factory supplying complete bicycles to India will need its own ISI licence within six months for large companies.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech reviews bicycle and accessory portfolios product by product and gives a written view on what needs BIS and what does not. For products that need it, we handle FMCS licences and CRS registrations for overseas factories, including testing in India and acting as Authorised Indian Representative. Our team includes former BIS Directors. To check a single product yourself, see does my product need BIS.