BIS and CE are the product compliance systems of two different markets. BIS certification is India’s: the Bureau of Indian Standards grants a licence (the ISI mark) or a registration (CRS) after testing at a laboratory it recognises, and for the ISI mark, a factory assessment. The CE mark is the EU’s: the manufacturer declares that the product meets the EU laws that apply to it, signs an EU Declaration of Conformity and affixes the mark, with a notified body involved only where the law requires it. Neither replaces the other. An Indian importer cannot rely on a CE mark for a product under a Quality Control Order, and an Indian exporter cannot rely on a BIS licence to sell in the EU.
For exports to Europe, see our EU GPSR and CE technical file service. For imports into India, see our ISI mark and BIS CRS services.
BIS vs CE at a glance
| BIS (India) | CE mark (EU) | |
|---|---|---|
| Market | India | European Union (and recognised in Great Britain for most goods) |
| Who grants it | Bureau of Indian Standards | Nobody centrally; the manufacturer declares conformity |
| Basis | ISI: BIS factory assessment and testing. CRS: test report from a BIS-recognised lab with self-declaration | EU conformity assessment: usually self-assessment (module A), notified body where the law requires |
| Standards | Indian Standards (IS), many aligned with IEC or ISO | Harmonised European standards (EN), many aligned with IEC or ISO |
| Legal trigger | Quality Control Orders and compulsory registration orders under the BIS Act, 2016 | EU harmonisation legislation, e.g. LVD, EMC, RED, RoHS, Toy Safety, Machinery |
| Document | BIS licence (CM/L number) or registration (R-number) | EU Declaration of Conformity and technical file |
| Mark on product | ISI mark or CRS Standard Mark, with IS number and licence or registration number | CE mark, in the proportions set by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 |
| Local representative | Authorised Indian Representative for foreign manufacturers | EU-based responsible person under GPSR for consumer products |
| Validity | Up to five years, renewable, with annual fees | No expiry as such; the DoC must stay accurate and records be kept for 10 years |
| How to check | BIS Care app | Ask for the DoC and technical file; notified body certificates via NANDO |
Approval vs declaration
The biggest difference is who stands behind the mark.
- BIS is a third-party approval. For the ISI mark, BIS assesses the factory and has the product tested before granting a licence, then audits and samples it. For CRS, BIS registers the manufacturer on a test report from a laboratory it recognises, and later samples products from the market.
- CE is a manufacturer’s declaration. The European Commission states that CE marking does not mean the EU or any other authority has approved the product as safe. For most electrical and electronic consumer goods, conformity is self-declared under module A, backed by test reports to EN standards. Market surveillance authorities check products after they are on the market.
Neither is “stricter” in general; they put the checks at different points.
Product scope differs too
The two systems cover different product lists:
- BIS is compulsory only for products notified in India, such as cement, steel, cables, appliances, helmets and toys (ISI), and mobile phones, laptops, LED lamps and batteries (CRS). See our BIS product list.
- CE is required only for products covered by EU laws that provide for it, and affixing it to other products is forbidden. For consumer products outside those laws, the General Product Safety Regulation applies instead.
A product can need BIS but not CE, CE but not BIS, both or neither, depending on where it is sold.
Can one test report serve both?
Partly. Many standards are aligned:
| Product | India (BIS) | EU (CE) |
|---|---|---|
| Laptops, adapters, phones, audio-video | IS/IEC 62368-1 | EN IEC 62368-1 under LVD or RED |
| Household appliances | IS 302 series | EN 60335 series under LVD |
| Lithium-ion portable batteries | IS 16046 | EN 62133-2, plus the EU Batteries Regulation |
| Toys | IS 9873 series | EN 71 series under Toy Safety |
Even where standards match, the reports are not interchangeable:
- For BIS, the report must come from a laboratory recognised by BIS for that Indian Standard. A CB or EN report from another laboratory is not filed in its place.
- For CE, an Indian report can support the technical file only if it covers the EN edition in force, the EU voltage and ratings, the exact models, and any EU-specific deviations, and comes from a suitably competent laboratory.
Planning both from the start, with the same samples and a laboratory accredited for both sets of standards, saves the most time.
For Indian exporters
If you hold an ISI licence or CRS registration and want to sell in the EU:
- Identify which EU laws apply, for example LVD, EMC and RoHS for a kettle, or RED and RoHS for a Bluetooth speaker.
- Check whether a notified body is needed; for most electrical consumer goods it is not.
- Close test gaps against EN standards and EU ratings.
- Prepare the technical file and risk assessment, sign the EU Declaration of Conformity and affix the CE mark.
- Appoint an EU-based responsible person for consumer products under GPSR, and add traceability details to the product.
The UK continues to recognise CE for most goods alongside UKCA. See CE full form and meaning for the details.
For importers into India
If your supplier offers “CE certified” goods for the Indian market:
- Check whether the product is on the BIS ISI or CRS list. If it is, the foreign manufacturer needs its own BIS licence (through FMCS) or CRS registration, with an Authorised Indian Representative.
- Book testing at a laboratory recognised by BIS for the Indian Standard; check the lab list on bis.gov.in or crsbis.in, since most recognised laboratories are in India.
- Check other Indian approvals: WPC ETA for wireless devices, BEE star labels for notified appliances, Legal Metrology declarations on the pack and EPR where it applies.
Consignments of notified goods without a valid BIS licence or registration can be held at customs, whatever marks they carry.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech is a private compliance consultancy based in India. We are not an EU notified body and cannot act as your EU responsible person. For exporters, we identify the applicable EU laws, check test reports for standard edition and model coverage, and assemble the technical file and Declaration of Conformity. For importers and overseas manufacturers, we handle BIS ISI and CRS applications, including the Authorised Indian Representative. Our team includes former BIS officers. See our EU GPSR and CE technical file, ISI mark and BIS CRS services.