BIS certification is not required for bicycle helmets in India. The only helmet order for road users, the Helmet for riders of Two Wheeler Motor Vehicles (Quality Control) Order, 2020, makes IS 4151:2015 compulsory for helmets used on two-wheeled motor vehicles. A pedal bicycle is not a motor vehicle, so a helmet made and sold for cycling can be imported and sold without an ISI mark. There are two exceptions: a helmet marketed for motorcycles, scooters or mopeds, and a helmet for riding an e-bike that counts as a motor vehicle.
Which helmets need BIS in India
| Helmet | BIS mandatory? | Indian Standard | Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicycle (pedal cycle) helmets | No | None made compulsory | No order |
| Helmets for riders of two-wheeler motor vehicles | Yes, ISI mark | IS 4151:2015 | S.O. 4252(E), in force since 1 June 2021 |
| Helmets for e-bikes that count as motor vehicles | Yes, ISI mark | IS 4151:2015 | S.O. 4252(E) |
| Industrial safety helmets | Yes, ISI mark | IS 2925 | S.O. 4649(E), 23 October 2023 |
| Non-metal helmets for police | Yes, ISI mark | IS 9562 | S.O. 4649(E) |
| Non-metal helmets for firemen and civil defence | Yes, ISI mark | IS 2745 | S.O. 4649(E) |
The other helmet order, S.O. 4649(E), covers helmets for industry, police, firefighters and civil defence. It does not cover sports helmets.
Why bicycle helmets fall outside IS 4151
Three parts of the order and the standard settle the question.
- The order names motor vehicles. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued S.O. 4252(E) on 26 November 2020. Its table lists one product, “Helmet for riders of Two Wheeler Motor Vehicles”, against IS 4151:2015 under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Goods meant for export are excluded.
- The standard defines a two wheeler as a motor vehicle. Clause 1.1 of IS 4151:2015 limits its scope to protective helmets for everyday use by two wheeler riders, and clause 3.1 defines a two wheeler as “any two wheeled motor vehicle with or without detachable side car”. Clause 1.2 also excludes helmets for high-speed competition.
- The standard is built around motorcycles. The 2015 revision renamed the standard from “Protective Helmets for Motorcycle Riders” to “Protective Helmets for Two Wheeler Riders” and aligned it with UN ECE Regulation No. 22, the European motorcycle helmet regulation. Amendment No. 2 (June 2020) requires the words “Two Wheeler Helmet” on the outer surface of every certified helmet.
A bicycle helmet made to EN 1078 (Europe) or CPSC 16 CFR 1203 (United States) is tested for cycling impacts. It is a different product from a helmet certified to IS 4151.
Indian law already treats cycling helmets as a separate product
The Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022 (G.S.R. 126(E), 15 February 2022) added rule 138(7) on children aged nine months to four years riding pillion on motorcycles. The rule requires such a child to wear a crash helmet. Until BIS prescribes a specification, it accepts helmets complying with ASTM 1447, BS EN 1080 or BS EN 1078, the European cycling helmet standard. The rule names cycling helmet standards separately from IS 4151, which confirms that IS 4151 is not a cycling helmet standard.
When a helmet sold for cycling does need BIS
A helmet comes under IS 4151, and needs the ISI mark, in these cases:
- It is marketed for motor vehicles. Packaging, labels, listings or catalogues that describe the helmet as suitable for motorcycles, scooters or mopeds bring it under the order.
- It is for riding an e-bike that counts as a motor vehicle. Under rule 2(u) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, a battery-operated vehicle is not a motor vehicle if an approved testing agency verifies that its thirty-minute motor power is below 0.25 kW and its top speed is below 25 km/h. Pedal-assisted bicycles qualify when the motor is below 0.25 kW, its output cuts off by 25 km/h or when the rider stops pedalling, and the bicycle has suitable brakes and front and rear reflectors. An e-bike above these limits is a motor vehicle, and helmets sold for its riders fall under IS 4151.
- It is sold as a dual-purpose helmet. A model promoted for both cycling and moped or scooter use is a two-wheeler helmet for BIS purposes.
Customs and the HS code for bicycle helmets
Bicycle helmets are usually declared under HS heading 6506 10 (safety headgear), the same heading as motorcycle helmets. In India’s ITC(HS) schedule, helmets that are neither industrial nor ballistic fall under 6506 10 90 (“Other”). Because the heading is shared, customs officers sometimes ask for a BIS licence at clearance.
To clear bicycle helmets smoothly, keep these documents with each shipment:
- test reports to the cycling standard the helmet meets, such as EN 1078 or CPSC 16 CFR 1203,
- product literature and packaging that show the helmet is for pedal cycling, with no reference to motorcycles, scooters or mopeds, and
- a written note on why S.O. 4252(E) and IS 4151 do not apply, citing the clauses above.
What importers of bicycle helmets should do
- List every helmet model with its intended use, the standards it is certified to and its HS code.
- Check the marketing. Remove any claim of suitability for motorcycles, scooters or mopeds from Indian packaging and listings.
- Check your e-bike range. If you sell e-bikes above 0.25 kW or 25 km/h, the helmets you sell for them need IS 4151 certification.
- Prepare the customs file described above before the first shipment.
- Check the rest of the range. Reflectors, tyres, tubes and battery-powered accessories do need BIS. See our guide to BIS for bicycles and bicycle accessories.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech reviews helmet and cycling ranges for importers and brands, model by model, and prepares the written applicability note for customs. Where a helmet does fall under IS 4151, we handle the ISI licence for the factory, including testing in India and acting as Authorised Indian Representative for overseas manufacturers under FMCS. Our team includes former BIS Directors. For gloves, see is BIS required for cycling gloves.