ISI and ISO sound alike but mean different things. The ISI mark is a product certification mark granted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): it shows that a specific product, made at a licensed factory, conforms to an Indian Standard. ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, a Geneva-based body that writes international standards such as ISO 9001. ISO itself certifies no one. An “ISO certificate” is issued by an independent certification body and covers a company’s management system, not a product. For a product under a Quality Control Order, only the BIS licence meets the legal requirement.
Our ISO certification service and ISI mark certification service cover each side.
ISI vs ISO at a glance
| ISI mark | ISO certification (e.g. ISO 9001) | |
|---|---|---|
| Name behind it | Indian Standards Institution, replaced by BIS in 1987 | International Organization for Standardization |
| Who grants it | Bureau of Indian Standards only | An accredited certification body (ISO issues no certificates) |
| What is certified | A product, against a specific Indian Standard | An organisation’s management system, against an ISO standard |
| Legal status in India | Compulsory for products notified under Quality Control Orders | Voluntary, though often required by buyers and tenders |
| Where it appears | On the product, with the IS number and CM/L licence number | On certificates and company literature; not as a product mark |
| Law | BIS Act, 2016 | No Indian law; accreditation through NABCB |
| Validity | Up to five years, renewable, with annual fees | Usually a three-year cycle with surveillance audits |
| How to check | BIS Care app, “Verify Licence Details” | IAF CertSearch and the certification body’s register |
What the ISI mark is
ISI stands for the Indian Standards Institution, which came into existence on 6 January 1947 and was replaced by BIS on 1 April 1987. The mark kept the old name. Today it is the BIS Standard Mark under Scheme-I: BIS assesses the factory, the product is tested against the Indian Standard, and the licensee prints the ISI mark with the IS number and a CM/L licence number.
The ISI mark is compulsory for products notified by the Central Government, such as cement, TMT bars, cables, helmets, pressure cookers and many appliances. See ISI mark full form and meaning and BIS vs ISI.
What ISO is
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international body that officially came into existence on 23 February 1947, a few weeks after ISI. It develops and publishes international standards through its national members; BIS is India’s member of ISO. Many ISO standards are adopted in India as IS/ISO standards, for example IS/ISO 9001.
ISO states that it does not perform certification or issue certificates. When a company says it is “ISO certified”, it means a certification body has audited its management system against a standard such as:
- ISO 9001, quality management systems;
- ISO 14001, environmental management systems;
- ISO 45001, occupational health and safety management systems;
- ISO 27001, information security management systems.
For background, see ISO full form and meaning.
Product vs system: the core difference
The clearest way to separate them:
- ISI asks whether this product meets the standard. A helmet with an ISI mark has been made under a licence for IS 4151, and BIS draws samples from the factory and the market to check it.
- ISO 9001 asks whether this company manages quality in a controlled way. It audits processes such as design, purchasing, production control, complaints and corrective action. It does not test or approve any product.
A company can hold both, and many manufacturers do. An effective ISO 9001 system makes it easier to run the in-house testing and records BIS expects under the Scheme of Inspection and Testing, but it is not a substitute for the licence.
When you need which
| Situation | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Product is listed under a BIS Quality Control Order | BIS licence (ISI mark) or CRS registration, as the order specifies |
| Government tender asks for “ISI marked” goods | BIS licence for the product |
| Tender or buyer asks for a “certified quality management system” | ISO 9001 certificate from an accredited certification body |
| Export customer audits your factory | Often ISO 9001, plus product approvals for the destination market, such as the CE mark for the EU |
| Medical devices | ISO 13485 for the quality system, plus CDSCO licensing for the device |
How to check each
ISI mark. Enter the CM/L number in Verify Licence Details in the official BIS Care app. Check that the licensee, product, Indian Standard and status match. See our CM/L number check guide.
ISO certificate. Note the certificate number, the certification body, the standard and the scope. Search on IAF CertSearch, check the certification body’s own register, and confirm on the NABCB website (or that of the relevant foreign accreditation body) that the certification body is accredited for that standard. A certificate from an unaccredited body, or one using the ISO logo, is a warning sign, since ISO does not allow its logo to be used in connection with certification.
Common mistakes
- “ISO mark” on a product. There is no ISO product mark. A product label saying “ISO approved” is misleading.
- Calling a BIS licence an “ISI certificate from ISO”. BIS and ISO are separate bodies.
- Assuming ISO 9001 meets a QCO. It does not. Consignments of notified goods without a BIS licence can be held at customs.
- Using the ISI logo for electronics. Products under CRS carry a different Standard Mark with an R-number. See ISI vs CRS.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech is a private compliance consultancy, independent of BIS and ISO. For products, we take manufacturers through BIS licensing, from choosing the Indian Standard to grant. For management systems, we help organisations implement ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and related standards and prepare for certification audits by accredited bodies. See our ISI mark certification and ISO certification services.