BIS CERTIFICATION FOR TOYS

BIS Certificate for Toys - Overview

Safety is most important while dealing with toys for children. Dangerous toys can create serious hazards like choking, bodily injury, and health hazards from poisonous plastics, paints, or fabric materials. To combat this, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) releases stringent safety specifications through BIS certification for toys to ensure that toys must comply with the requirements of physical, mechanical, chemical, and electrical safety. The standard specifications must be compatible with global requirements by organizations like ISO and IEC to safeguard children from hazards.

A BIS licence is a mandatory requirement for both electrical and non-electrical toy manufacturers in India. Toys carrying the ISI Mark (a symbol of quality and safety) can only be imported or sold in the Indian market. If a manufacturer wants to manufacture and sell toys in India, they must comply with the required Indian standards as mandated by the Bureau of Indian Standards. BIS has categorized the Indian standard for the safety of electric toys under IS 15644:2006. While non-electric toys must comply with the safety standards outlined under IS 9873 (Part 1 to 9).

Toys Quality Control Order (QCO), 2020

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, introduced the Toys Quality Control Order (QCO) in 2020 as part of the BIS Act 2016. As per this QCO, BIS certification is mandatory for toy manufacturers to use the standard ISI mark on their products for uninterrupted manufacturing and selling in the Indian market. BIS regularly conducts raids in various parts of the country to determine whether the toys on the market meet the necessary criteria or not. Selling toys without the ISI mark could result in severe penalties and seizure of the products.

This means that all those who manufacture, import, sell, keep for selling, or rent toys are bound to fulfill such safety specifications and label products with the ISI mark. Toys without the ISI mark are not allowed to be sold and distributed legally within India.

Indian Standards for Toy Safety

The BIS certification is based on seven key Indian Standards outlined in the Toys QCO. These standards are aligned with international norms set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The BIS certification process ensures that toys manufactured, imported, or sold in India meet the required safety, quality, and performance standards as defined by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Toys are widely used by children, and proper certification helps protect them from physical, mechanical, chemical, electrical, and flammability hazards. The process includes the following steps:

Online Registration: Manufacturers must register on the BIS Manak Online Portal by providing company details, manufacturing unit information, product details, and applicable toy categories. Foreign manufacturers are required to appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) in India for compliance and coordination with BIS authorities.

Testing at BIS-Approved Laboratory: Toy samples are tested in BIS-recognized laboratories to verify compliance with applicable Indian Standards such as IS 9873 (Part 1 to Part 9) and IS 15644 for electric toys. Testing includes checks for physical and mechanical safety, flammability, toxic elements, chemical safety, electrical safety, sharp edges, choking hazards, and overall child safety requirements.

Application Submission: After successful product testing, the manufacturer submits the BIS application along with laboratory test reports, technical documents, product specifications, manufacturing details, quality control documents, and factory information. Foreign manufacturers must also provide AIR authorization and related documents.

Factory Inspection: BIS officials conduct an inspection of the manufacturing facility to verify the production process, quality control measures, testing facilities, raw material management, and compliance with BIS standards. The inspection ensures that the manufacturer can consistently produce safe and quality-compliant toys.

Grant of BIS License: If the product and manufacturing facility comply with all BIS requirements, the BIS license is granted under the applicable certification scheme. This license confirms that the toys meet Indian safety and quality standards and are approved for sale in the Indian market.

Use of ISI Mark: After obtaining certification, the manufacturer is permitted to use the ISI Mark along with the CM/L number on the toys and packaging. This mark indicates that the toys are BIS-certified and comply with all prescribed Indian safety and quality standards.

Below are the documents required for BIS certification of toys:

Foreign manufacturers are required to appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) in India to coordinate with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and manage all compliance and regulatory requirements on their behalf in India.

After a manufacturer gets BIS certification for toys, the ISI Mark must be displayed clearly and permanently on the product or its packaging. Along with the ISI Mark, certain other details are also required as per BIS guidelines. These markings help consumers identify certified toys, ensure product traceability, and confirm that the toys meet the prescribed safety and quality standards.

After obtaining BIS certification for toys, the BIS license remains valid for a limited period and must be maintained through continuous compliance with applicable Indian Standards and BIS regulations.

Toy importers and manufacturers must obtain a BIS certificate/license to use the standard ISI mark for toys. Toys without the ISI mark are not permitted to be sold in the country.

EVTL India is one of the leading BIS consultants in India, helping manufacturers of toys in securing a BIS license for their products. With our decade of experience in the compliance secretary, we offer a start-to-end consultation solution from application submission, documentation, till the grant of license. Looking to secure your BIS license hassle-free? Contact our expert team today.