BIS Guidelines for Grant of Licence (GoL) | EVTL India
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) plays a crucial role in
maintaining product quality and safety in India through its certification
process. The Grant of Licence (GoL)
is an integral part of this process, ensuring that manufacturers meet the requirements of the relevant Indian
Standards (IS) before receiving approval to use the Standard Mark (ISI Mark).
This blog provides a detailed overview of the GoL process, as per the Conformity Assessment Scheme – I of Schedule – II of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
1. Understanding the Grant
of Licence (GoL) Process
The GoL process involves:
● Factory visits for assessment.
● Sample collection and testing.
● Compliance with Indian
Standards.
● Issuance of BIS certification
upon successful verification.
The process is divided into two options:
(a) Option 1:
Standard GoL Process
● Expected completion time: 90 days
from the date of application.
● Factory assessment, product
testing, and documentation must be satisfactory at first instance.
(b) Option 2:
Fast-Track GoL Process
●
Expected completion time: 30 days,
subject to:
○ Satisfactory factory visit.
○ Confirmation of sample dispatch to the laboratory.
○ Advance annual marking fee payment.
● If a sample is not delivered to the lab within 15 working days, the manufacturer will
be contacted for resolution.
(c) Special
Case: All India First Licence Applications
● Applications for new products are processed within 45 days, unless minimum testing time is longer.
● Weekly review of application
status by Head (BO) to prevent
delays.
● Applications are generally processed under Option 1, unless a third-party laboratory is available.
2. Factory Visit
Requirements for GoL
A factory
visit is mandatory for verifying the manufacturing
process, quality control, and compliance.
(a) Duration
of Factory Visit
● Indian manufacturers: Usually one day.
● Foreign manufacturers: Typically two days.
● Additional visits may be
required, as per the decision of Head
(BO).
(b) Documents
Reviewed During Factory Visit
- Self-Evaluation cum
Verification Report (Annexure-I).
- Details of Quality Control Personnel.
- Calibration Certificates of testing equipment.
- Test Certificates of Raw Materials (if applicable).
- Sample Drawings of
product/components.
- Hygienic Condition Report (if applicable).
- Plant Layout with
manufacturing, storage, and testing areas.
- Factory Location Plan.
- Declaration of Subcontracted Tests.
- Inspection & Test Plan (if applicable).
- Undertaking for Long Duration Tests (Annexure-III).
- Undertaking for Option 2 certification (Annexure-IV).
- Corrective Actions from previous licenses (if applicable).
(c) Factory
Testing (FT) Requirements
● Workmanship, visual inspection, and surface defect
checks.
● Tests as per Clause 4 (i)(1) and 4 (i)(2) for partial test reports.
● In cases where third-party testing is unavailable, testing can be conducted at the factory under BIS supervision.
3. Sample Drawl and
Testing
After factory assessment, product
samples are drawn for third-party
laboratory testing.
(a) Sample
Selection
● Based on the Scheme of Inspection & Testing (SIT).
● If a product has tests
conducted once in 6 months, those
tests are prioritized.
● Samples are sealed and dispatched to BIS-approved laboratories.
(b) Testing
Procedures
● If a product requires long-duration tests (30+ days), test
reports from internal/external labs
can be submitted.
● If a long-duration test fails, the license may be canceled.
4. Post-Certification
Compliance
(a) Licence
Conditions
- All production must
comply with BIS standards.
- The
manufacturer must display BIS
certification details at their premises.
- The
certification must be mentioned in advertisements.
- The license is valid for a minimum
of 1 year and up to 2 years.
(b) Review of
Test Reports
● If a sample fails after GoL, the license may be suspended.
● If a re-drawn sample fails again, the license is canceled.
5. Rejection and
Cancellation of Licence
(a) Reasons
for Application Rejection
● Failure to offer samples for testing
within 30 days.
● Repeated failures of product samples.
● Lack of testing facilities or qualified
personnel.
● Pending financial dues to BIS.
● Tampering of documents or unethical practices.
● Refusal to assist BIS officials during
factory visits.
(b) Rejection
Process
● A 21-day notice is given before rejection.
● The applicant is allowed to explain their case.
● If unsatisfactory, the
application is officially rejected
(Annexure-VII).
(c) Fresh
Applications for Cancelled Licences
● If a license is canceled due to sample non-conformity, fresh applications will be processed under Option 1 only.
6. Additional Guidelines
for Foreign Manufacturers
Foreign manufacturers must comply with additional BIS certification requirements as per Annexure-VIII.
7. Fee Structure for GoL
- Inspection Fee: Paid in advance.
- Advance Annual Minimum Marking Fee:
○ 50% paid during application submission.
○ Remaining 50% (or higher) paid at GoL stage.
- Testing Fee:
○ Option 1: Paid by the applicant.
○ Option 2: Included in the marking fee.
8. Labelling and Marking
Requirements
● Manufacturers must comply with BIS labelling and marking regulations.
● Digital labels (QR codes, barcodes) may be used if permitted by BIS product-specific guidelines.
9. Appeals and Relaxations
● Manufacturers can appeal to the Director General
(Annexure-IX).
● For products with no third-party laboratory, relaxations may be granted as per Annexure-X.
Conclusion
The Grant of Licence (GoL) process under BIS Conformity Assessment Scheme – I is a structured and
well-regulated procedure aimed at ensuring that manufacturers meet Indian quality and safety standards. By
following the detailed factory
inspection, testing, and certification process, manufacturers can obtain and maintain their BIS certification
efficiently.
For expert guidance on BIS Certification and regulatory compliance,
contact EVTL India, your trusted
certification consultant!