Dezan Shira & Associates’ India team shared expert regulatory insights at a webinar on navigating India’s BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) compliance regime, hosted in collaboration with the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) on November 19, 2025. Ankur Munjal, Country Director – India, and Naina Bhardwaj, Manager – International Business Advisory, were invited as expert speakers to discuss the fast-expanding BIS framework and its implications for domestic businesses and foreign manufacturers exporting to the Indian market.
Speaking alongside Gerald Manohar, Chair of IACC’s Karnataka Chapter, the session underscored India’s heightened focus on product-quality enforcement. Ankur highlighted how the BIS regime has expanded to over 700 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) across machinery, electronics, chemicals, and industrial inputs, reflecting the government’s push to strengthen consumer safety and industrial competitiveness. He stressed that with tightening enforcement at ports, sectoral ministries are adding new items under compulsory certification, making early planning essential to avoid customs delays, penalties, and disruptions in supply chains.
Drawing on Dezan Shira’s extensive on-the-ground experience supporting foreign manufacturers with BIS approval, Ankur Munjal explained that one of the most persistent challenges companies face is navigating India’s decentralized regulatory information. “There is no single official list of all QCOs,” he noted. “Updates are issued through different ministries and BIS circulars, so identifying whether a product falls under a new QCO requires constant monitoring. Even a small oversight can result in consignments being detained. Businesses increasingly rely on structured regulatory mapping and on-ground technical support to stay compliant.”
Reflecting on the operational realities companies face, Ankur noted, “The compliance environment is becoming more demanding, but it is also becoming more predictable when approached with a structured, forward-looking roadmap. BIS readiness strengthens both risk management and brand credibility in India.”
Building on this, Naina Bhardwaj provided a detailed overview of the BIS certification process under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS), elaborating on documentation, product identification, AIR representation, factory audits, and laboratory testing. She noted that most delays occur because companies underestimate the time required to complete the process. “A realistic BIS cycle is six to eight months,” she stated. “This includes audit scheduling for overseas factories, testing queues, especially for products newly brought under QCOs, and corrective-action loops. If any documentation or samples are misaligned, the process extends further. Planning ahead is not simply advisable; it is operationally necessary.”
Both speakers highlighted recurring industry pain points, including uncertainty around the applicability of new QCOs, limited test-lab capacity, and the technical preparation required for first-time applicants. “Fragmentation in QCO notifications is where most businesses get stuck. Without expert mapping of product categories, determining whether a product falls under a new QCO can become an error-prone process. Early feasibility checks, gap assessments, and proactive documentation alignment help companies avoid unnecessary disruption.”
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, during which participants sought clarity on customs enforcement under new QCO notifications, managing multi-country audit requirements, and the practical implications of shifting conformity assessment schemes. Ankur and Naina reiterated that while India’s compliance environment is becoming more rigorous, companies that adopt a structured and forward-looking approach can mitigate operational risks, ensure smoother clearances, and enhance the credibility of their India operations.
For more information on how Dezan Shira & Associates supports domestic and foreign manufactures with BIS, certification support, and India market-entry support, contact our experts at ankur.munjal@dezshira.com and naina.bhardwaj@dezshira.com .
For more insights and session highlights, click here.
Dezan Shira & Associates’ Presence in India
With offices in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore, as well as associates in all other major cities, Dezan Shira Consultancy Services Private Limited offers robust compliance services and growth solutions to complex businesses entering India.
Our services in India include structuring & incorporation, tax & regulatory, registration & compliance, due diligence, intellectual property (IP) & brand protection, business & tax advisory, HR administration, payroll management, and bookkeeping & accounting.
Our legal & business advisory services include contract reviews, financial reviews, and CXO assistance services. Should you have any questions or queries about investing or doing business in India, you can get in touch with our team in India here.
Further resources To learn more about the growing opportunities in India’s business environment, please visit our Doing Business in India Online Portal and India Briefing, where you can find resources such as:
