A BIS licence belongs to the factory, not to the brand. Under both the ISI scheme and the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), BIS grants the licence or registration to the manufacturer for a specific factory, and records the brands that factory may put the Standard Mark on. A private label seller on Amazon, Flipkart or Meesho does not get “its own” BIS certificate. It gets its brand added to each contract manufacturer’s licence, and it carries the approvals that the law puts on brand owners: usually EPR, and sometimes Legal Metrology and FSSAI.
How BIS treats brands
| ISI licence (Scheme-I) | CRS registration (Scheme-II) | |
|---|---|---|
| Granted to | The manufacturing unit | The manufacturer, for a specific factory |
| Brand | Brands are part of the licence scope; new brands need an inclusion request | The brand is recorded against the registration; each factory–brand combination must be covered |
| Brand documents | Trademark registration or brand authorisation | Trademark or brand authorisation where the brand owner is not the manufacturer |
| Shown on public records | Licensee, factory address, IS number, scope | Manufacturer, product, IS number, validity, scope and brand on crsbis.in |
So when a buyer or a marketplace looks up the CM/L or R-number printed on your product, the record shows your contract manufacturer’s name and factory, with your brand in the scope. That is normal. What matters is that your brand and the model are in the scope and the licence is valid. See how to check a CM/L number and how to check a BIS R-number.
Getting your brand onto a manufacturer’s licence
- Confirm the product is notified and which scheme applies: ISI, CRS or none. See does my product need BIS?
- Check the manufacturer’s licence is valid for the product and the Indian Standard.
- Give the manufacturer brand documents: your trademark certificate or application, and an authorisation letter for the product and brand.
- The manufacturer files the request with BIS: a brand inclusion on Manak Online for an ISI licence, or on crsbis.in for CRS. CRS inclusions may need a fresh test report for new models; an ISI inclusion may need samples tested.
- Wait for BIS approval before your branded goods are marked and sold.
- Repeat for each factory. A second source needs its own licence covering your brand.
Risks that catch private label sellers
- Switching factories. A cheaper factory without a licence, or without your brand in its scope, makes your stock unsellable.
- New models. A CRS registration lists models. A new model needs an inclusion, not just a new box.
- Expired or suspended licences. The manufacturer’s licence can lapse between orders. Check it every time.
- Label mismatch. The brand, model, IS number and licence number on the product must match BIS’s record.
- Importing your own brand. If an overseas factory makes your brand, the factory registers with BIS through an Authorised Indian Representative, which can be you. See BIS for foreign manufacturers.
What stays with the brand owner
BIS sits with the factory, but other laws put duties on the brand owner directly:
| Law | Brand owner’s role |
|---|---|
| E-waste EPR | A producer includes anyone who sells, under its own brand, equipment assembled or produced by others |
| Battery EPR | A producer includes anyone who sells batteries, or equipment with batteries, under its own brand |
| Plastic packaging EPR | Brand owners are obligated for their packaging, unless they are micro or small enterprises |
| Legal Metrology (LMPC) | The packer or importer registers under Rule 27, and the package must declare the maker, packer or importer |
| FSSAI | Under Regulation 5(7) of the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, the brand owner’s FSSAI logo and licence number must be on the pack, with the manufacturer’s or packer’s if different |
| WPC ETA | The importer or manufacturer of radio products applies; a brand importing its own products takes it |
Checklist for a private label seller
- List every product and its factory.
- For each notified product, get the CM/L or R-number, and check that your brand and model are in the scope.
- Keep your trademark and authorisation letters with each manufacturer’s licence copy.
- Register as producer for e-waste, battery and plastic EPR where you are the brand owner.
- Make sure the label carries the Legal Metrology declarations, and FSSAI details for food.
- Recheck licences before each purchase order.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech adds brands and models to ISI licences and CRS registrations, licenses new factories, and acts as Authorised Indian Representative for overseas factories making Indian brands. We also handle EPR, LMPC and WPC filings for brand owners. Our team includes former BIS officers. See our BIS CRS registration and ISI mark certification services, or our guide to selling regulated products online.