Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings

Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings QCO Overview

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, has issued the draft Bearings (Quality Control) Order, 2025.

Under this notification, Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings covered under IS 3980:1982 have been brought under mandatory BIS certification requirements.

As per the notification, manufacturers of Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings shall ensure that their products conform to the specified Indian Standard and bear the Standard Mark (ISI Mark) under a valid BIS licence granted in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

What is IS 3980:1982?

IS 3980:1982 is the Indian Standard for Specification for Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings. The standard specifies the requirements relating to materials, dimensions, porosity, oil content, workmanship, inspection, testing, marking, packaging, and quality control of porous metal powder oil-impregnated bearings.

The standard ensures that porous metal powder oil-impregnated bearings meet prescribed quality, dimensional accuracy, self-lubricating performance, wear resistance, durability, operational reliability, load-bearing capability, and service life requirements for use in electric motors, household appliances, automotive components, office equipment, industrial machinery, agricultural equipment, and various engineering applications requiring maintenance-free bearing performance.

Implementation Timeline

According to the draft Bearings (Quality Control) Order, 2025, the implementation schedule for Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings under IS 3980:1982 is as follows:

• General Enterprises:12 months from the date of publication of the Order.
• Small Enterprises:15 months from the date of publication of the Order.
• Micro Enterprises: 18 months from the date of publication of the Order.

Key Requirements Under the QCO

• Products must comply with the requirements specified under IS 3980:1982.
• Manufacturers must obtain BIS certification before selling products in the Indian market.
• Certified products must bear the ISI Mark.
• BIS will act as the certification and enforcement authority for these products.
• Non-compliance may result in penalties under the provisions of the BIS Act, 2016.

Exemptions Under the Order

The QCO does not apply to:

• Products manufactured domestically for export purposes.
• Products imported as part of finished goods, sub-assemblies, or components.
• Products imported by manufacturers for use in manufacturing products meant for export, subject to prescribed conditions.
• Limited quantities imported for research and development purposes, subject to the conditions specified in the Order.

Certification and Enforcement Authority

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) shall act as the certification and enforcement authority for Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings covered under this Quality Control Order.

Penalty for Non-Compliance

Any person or manufacturer violating the provisions of this Order shall be punishable under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.