To sell a regulated product on Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart or a quick commerce app such as Blinkit, Zepto or Swiggy Instamart, the product has to meet Indian law before the marketplace’s own rules even come in. For most physical goods that means up to five things: BIS certification (the ISI mark or a CRS registration), Legal Metrology declarations and registration, WPC approval for wireless products, EPR registration for electronics, batteries and plastic packaging, and FSSAI for food. This guide shows which apply to which products, and who in the chain holds each one.
The five approvals, in brief
| Approval | Law | What it covers | Who holds it |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIS ISI mark | BIS Act, 2016 and Quality Control Orders | Products under a QCO: toys, kitchenware, helmets, appliances, cables and many more | The manufacturer, for a specific factory |
| BIS CRS registration | BIS Act, 2016 and MeitY’s Compulsory Registration Order | Electronics and IT goods: chargers, power banks, earbuds, laptops, LED lights | The manufacturer, for a specific factory |
| Legal Metrology (LMPC) | Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011 | Declarations on pre-packed goods; registration of packers and importers | Packer or importer; e-commerce entities must display the declarations |
| WPC ETA | Indian Telegraph and wireless laws, run by DoT | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio products | Importer or manufacturer |
| EPR | E-Waste, Battery and Plastic Waste Management Rules | Collection and recycling targets | The producer or brand owner, including importers |
| FSSAI | Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 | Food businesses and food labels | Each food business, including e-commerce sellers |
Which approvals your product needs
| Product type | BIS | Other approvals to check |
|---|---|---|
| Toys | ISI, IS 9873 and IS 15644 | LMPC; WPC for radio toys; battery EPR |
| Kitchenware: pressure cookers, gas stoves, metal bottles, cookware | ISI | LMPC |
| Household electrical appliances | ISI, IS 302 (Part 1) from 1 October 2026, or the appliance’s own order | LMPC; e-waste EPR; BEE for listed appliances |
| Electronics: chargers, power banks, earbuds, watches | CRS | WPC; e-waste and battery EPR; LMPC |
| Mobile accessories: cases, cables, stands | None | LMPC |
| Two-wheeler helmets | ISI, IS 4151 | LMPC |
| Footwear | ISI for many types, under the footwear orders | LMPC |
| Furniture: office and general chairs, some furniture | ISI for listed types | LMPC; plastic EPR for packaging |
| Sanitary napkins and baby diapers | ISI, IS 5405 and IS 17509 | LMPC; plastic EPR |
| Packaged food | None (FSSAI applies instead) | FSSAI; LMPC |
| Clothing | None for ordinary apparel | LMPC; plastic EPR for brand owners |
Not sure? See does my product need BIS? for how to check any product against BIS’s lists.
Who in the chain holds what
Marketplace selling usually involves four roles. The law puts different duties on each:
- Manufacturer (factory). Holds the BIS licence or CRS registration. A foreign factory applies to BIS directly and appoints an Authorised Indian Representative. See BIS for foreign manufacturers.
- Brand owner. Gets its brand added to each factory’s licence, and is usually the producer for EPR. See private label and BIS.
- Importer. Registers under Legal Metrology, usually takes WPC approval and EPR, and is checked by customs at the port. See the import checklist.
- Seller on the marketplace. Needs its own GST and, for food, FSSAI. A reseller does not need a BIS licence, but it must not sell notified goods without one, so it checks the CM/L or R-number of every product it lists.
The marketplace itself has duties too, under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 and the Legal Metrology rules. See what an e-commerce listing must show.
Marketplace guides
Each platform has its own process for checking compliance before a product goes live:
- Selling on Amazon India: BIS and compliance documents
- Selling on Flipkart: BIS and compliance documents
- Selling on Meesho: compliance for regulated products
- Selling on Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart: quick commerce compliance
How to check a product before you list it
- Find the mark on the product or box: the ISI mark with a CM/L number, or the CRS Standard Mark with an R-number, and the IS number.
- Look it up. CM/L numbers on Manak Online or the BIS Care app (how to); R-numbers on crsbis.in (how to).
- Match the record to your product: the factory, product, IS number, brand and model, and a valid status.
- Check the other approvals in the table above.
- Keep the evidence in one folder: licence copies, test reports, EPR certificates and non-applicability notes for uncovered products.
What goes wrong, and what it costs
Selling, storing or offering for sale notified goods without a valid licence, or with a false mark, contravenes Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016. Section 29(3) provides for imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh (₹5 lakh for later offences) that may extend to ten times the value of the goods, or both. BIS can search warehouses and seize goods, and the Central Consumer Protection Authority has ordered recalls and penalties against sellers and platforms. See government action against non-BIS products sold online.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech handles the full compliance file for products sold online: BIS ISI licences and CRS registrations (including for overseas factories), Legal Metrology registration, WPC ETA, EPR and FSSAI. We review a seller’s catalogue and say, product by product, what each listing needs, and we check suppliers’ licences against BIS’s records before you buy. Our team includes former BIS officers. Start with our ISI mark or CRS registration service, or request a call back.