If you import products to sell on Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho or a quick commerce app, most compliance has to be done before the goods ship. BIS-notified products need the overseas factory to be licensed or registered first; customs checks it at the port. The importer also needs Legal Metrology (LMPC) registration for pre-packed goods, and, depending on the product, WPC approval, EPR registration and an FSSAI importer licence. This checklist goes through them in the order you need them.
The approvals an importer may need
| Approval | Needed for | Who applies | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import Export Code (IEC) | Any import | Importer, from DGFT | Before the first import |
| BIS licence or CRS registration | Products under a QCO or the CRS order | The overseas factory, with an Authorised Indian Representative | Before shipping |
| WPC ETA | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio products | Importer or manufacturer | Before import and sale |
| LMPC registration | Pre-packaged goods for retail sale | Importer | Within 90 days of starting |
| E-waste and battery EPR | Electrical and electronic equipment, batteries | Importer as producer | Before sale |
| Plastic packaging EPR | Goods imported in plastic packaging | Importer | Before sale |
| FSSAI Central licence | Food | Importer, at its IEC address | Before import; each consignment cleared through FICS |
| CDSCO import licence | Medical devices; cosmetics need a separate CDSCO import registration | Importer | Before import |
| BEE star label | Appliances on BEE’s mandatory list | Manufacturer or importer | Before sale |
Step 1: Check whether the product needs BIS
Start with BIS, because it takes longest and it blocks customs clearance.
- ISI mark products include toys, pressure cookers, helmets, gas stoves, kitchen appliances, water bottles, cookware, footwear and, since 1 October 2026, almost every household electrical appliance. See selling toys online and selling home appliances online.
- CRS products include phones, chargers, power banks, batteries, earbuds, smart watches, speakers, laptops, TVs and LED lights. See selling electronics online.
- Not notified products, such as phone cases, USB cables and most clothing, need no BIS. Keep a short note on file explaining why, in case customs or a marketplace asks. See does my product need BIS?
Step 2: Get the overseas factory certified
BIS certifies the factory, not the importer.
- ISI products: the factory applies under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. BIS officers audit the factory, and samples are tested in India. Foreign applications always go through BIS’s normal (Option 1) procedure. Plan for several months.
- CRS products: the factory registers on crsbis.in using a test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory in India, through an Authorised Indian Representative. See our CRS registration process.
- Either way, the licence or registration must cover the brand and model you import. If you are buying a factory’s product under your own brand, see private label compliance.
Samples imported for testing, demonstration or R&D are outside the CRS order, according to MeitY’s FAQ, and the household appliances order allows appliance manufacturers to import 200 pieces a year for R&D that are not sold.
Step 3: Radio, EPR and the other approvals
- WPC ETA for radio products, now granted on self-declaration for licence-exempt bands. DoT’s 2024 memorandum states that ETA holders must still meet any DGFT import conditions.
- EPR with CPCB, as producer of e-waste, batteries or plastic packaging. Importers selling imported equipment are producers under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 “irrespective of the selling technique”.
- FSSAI for food: a Central licence under the Importer category and clearance of each consignment through FSSAI’s Food Import Clearance System, linked to the Customs ICEGATE portal.
Step 4: Labels before the goods leave the factory
The cheapest time to fix a label is before production. Each retail package should carry:
| From | What goes on the label |
|---|---|
| BIS | The ISI mark or CRS Standard Mark, IS number and CM/L or R-number |
| Legal Metrology, Rule 6 | Name and address of the importer, country of origin, common or generic name, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, MRP inclusive of taxes, unit sale price, consumer care details |
| FSSAI (food) | FSSAI logo, the importer’s licence number, name and address |
| Battery EPR | The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol on batteries, under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 |
| BEE | The star label, for appliances on the mandatory list |
See LMPC vs BIS for how the two sets of label rules fit together.
Step 5: Register under Legal Metrology
Rule 27 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 requires anyone who imports pre-packaged goods for sale to register with the Director of Legal Metrology or the State Controller within 90 days of starting. Packages above 25 kg or 25 litres and goods sold only to industrial or institutional consumers are outside the retail package rules. See LMPC full form and meaning.
Step 6: Before listing online
- Upload the BIS licence or registration, and other approvals, where the marketplace asks for them.
- Make sure the listing shows the declarations the Legal Metrology rules require of e-commerce. See what an e-commerce listing must show.
- Match the model number on the listing, the box and the BIS record.
- Keep the test reports, licence copies and EPR certificates in one folder, so you can answer a marketplace or BIS query the same day.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech handles the full import compliance file: BIS licences for overseas factories under FMCS, CRS registration with Authorised Indian Representative services, WPC ETA, EPR, LMPC importer registration and FSSAI licences. We also carry out pre-shipment inspection at the factory. Our team includes former BIS officers. See our FMCS service or our guide to selling regulated products online.