IS 303 BIS Certification for Plywood for General Purposes
Plywood for General Purposes made, imported or sold in India must be certified against IS 303 under an ISI mark licence (Scheme-I). What the standard covers, how testing works and how to get the licence.
About IS 303
| Standard | IS 303 : 1989 |
|---|---|
| Title | Plywood for general purposes |
| Product covered | Plywood for General Purposes |
| Category | Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters |
| Scheme | ISI mark licence (Scheme-I) |
| Notified under | Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3841(E), dated 29th August 2023 · Order PDF |
Editions and amendments of IS 303
| Edition | Published | Status |
|---|---|---|
| IS 303:2024 IS 303: 2024 Plywood for General Purposes - Specification (fourth revision) ( Draft Second Amendment of IS 303:2024) ( ICS 79.060.10) | 17 May 2024 | Current, next review 20 Mar 2031 |
| IS 303:1989 Plywood for General Purposes - | 31 Jul 1990 | Withdrawn 5 May 2025 |
Amendments:First Amendment (2025), Second Amendment (2026). Test reports must reflect the standard with its amendments.
Marking fee for IS 303
BIS charges an annual minimum marking fee for the ISI mark under IS 303, set by unit size, plus a per-unit rate once production passes the minimum:
| Unit size | Minimum marking fee (per year) |
|---|---|
| Large | ₹67,000 |
| Medium | ₹54,000 |
| Small | ₹33,500 |
| Micro | ₹13,400 |
Unit rate: ₹0.15 per sq.m. Source: BIS marking fee schedule for Scheme-I products, September 2026.
Sampling and key tests for IS 303
From the BIS product manual for IS 303, which BIS officers and applicants follow for certification:
Sample quantity:Plywood – 1 sheet
ISI licences under IS 303
BIS records 1600 operative licences (1673 including deferred, cancelled or under stop marking). Most licensed factories are in Kerala (543), Haryana (290), Uttar Pradesh (141), Gujarat (107), Punjab (88).
Testing against IS 303
BIS inspects the factory and has samples tested to the full Indian Standard at a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory. After grant, the factory keeps testing production under the Scheme of Inspection and Testing, and BIS draws factory and market samples.
The test report has to cover every clause of IS 303 that applies to the product, in the edition current on the date of testing. When BIS revises IS 303 or replaces it with a new edition, existing licence holders move to the new edition by the date BIS sets in its notification.
How to get an ISI mark licence under IS 303
The licence is granted to the manufacturer for a specific factory and product. Indian factories apply under Scheme-I; overseas factories apply under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) and must nominate an Authorised Indian Representative.
- Confirm the exact Indian Standard and the varieties to cover
- Get the product tested at a BIS-recognised lab (simplified procedure) or arrange BIS sampling
- Apply on Manak Online with factory, quality-control and test documents
- BIS factory inspection and sample verification
- Grant of licence, then marking with the ISI mark and CM/L number
Timeline. BIS targets 30 days under the simplified procedure (applying with a recent lab test report) and 90 days under the normal procedure. Overseas factories under FMCS typically take around 6 months.
Fees. Application fee ₹1,000 and annual licence fee ₹1,000, inspection charges of ₹7,000 per man-day, testing charges, and an annual minimum marking fee set for each Indian Standard (with concessions for micro and small units).
Mark. Certified products carry the ISI Standard Mark with the IS number and the CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX licence number.
Frequently asked questions
What does IS 303 cover?
IS 303 : 1989: Plywood for general purposes. BIS has made certification against it compulsory for plywood for general purposes.
Is BIS certification under IS 303 mandatory?
Yes, for plywood for general purposes, under the Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3841(E). The product needs a valid BIS licence (ISI mark) and must carry the ISI Standard Mark with the IS number and the CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX licence number.
Where is a product tested for IS 303?
BIS inspects the factory and has samples tested to the full Indian Standard at a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory. After grant, the factory keeps testing production under the Scheme of Inspection and Testing, and BIS draws factory and market samples.
How long does IS 303 BIS certification take?
BIS targets 30 days under the simplified procedure (applying with a recent lab test report) and 90 days under the normal procedure. Overseas factories under FMCS typically take around 6 months.
Other standards in Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters
- IS 710 Marine Plywood
- IS 1328 Veneered Decorative Plywood
- IS 2191 2 products
- IS 2202 2 products
- IS 4990 Plywood for Concrete Shuttering Works
- IS 5509 Fire Retardant Plywood
- IS 10701 Structural Plywood
Source: BIS lists of products under compulsory certification (Scheme-I, Scheme-II), checked October 2026. See the full BIS product list or all Indian Standards.
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