Conformity with Quality Control Orders

Quality Control Orders (QCO) are government mandates in India which require specific products to comply with Indian Standards. QCOs are primarily utilized by Indian ministries to protect consumer health, environment, and national security, while also acting as non-tariff barriers to reduce the dumping of substandard imports.

The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 requires compliance with the applicable BIS conformity assessment scheme (including licensing or registration, as the case may be) as a pre-condition for import, manufacture, storage, sale, or distribution of notified goods in India. These provisions apply to both domestic manufacturers and foreign producers who must obtain certification under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).

Failure to comply with the applicable BIS framework may result in restrictions on import clearance, prohibition on manufacture or sale, seizure or recall of non-conforming goods, penal consequences, including imprisonment.