BIS Update: Compulsory use of Standard Mark for various Hand Tools

Products concerned

The QCO would apply to products covered by the following Indian Standards:

Timelines for Implementation

The QCO would come into force in a staggered manner for different types of enterprises:

While the September 2024 QCO envisioned implementation on the following timelines.

• For micro enterprises: March 17, 2025.
• For small enterprises: June 17, 2025.
• For micro enterprises: September 17, 2025.

The present QCO has the following timelines for implementation.

• For micro enterprises: October 01, 2025.
• For small enterprises: January 01, 2026.
• For micro enterprises: April 01, 2026.

Exemptions Provided

The present QCO exempts certain kinds of Hand Tools from its ambit, such as:

• Goods manufactured domestically for export;
• Imports of up to 200 goods/articles if imported for R&D by manufacturers of hand tools, subject to additional requirements including a prohibition on being sold commercially.

Notably, the September 2024 QCO did not provide for the exemption regarding goods imported for R&D purposes.

Next Steps

Once the QCO comes into force, both domestic and foreign manufacturers of hand tools will only be able to sell these products in India while mandatorily using the prescribed Standard Mark under a valid license issued by the BIS.

To obtain the necessary certification from the BIS, both foreign producers and domestic manufacturers of these hand tools would need to submit a formal application to the BIS. Furthermore, the process of certification will also require physical testing and inspection of the relevant product at the factory premises as well as parallel testing by a BIS authorized laboratory in India to verify the same. BIS certification is a time-consuming process and therefore it is recommended that interested producers make applications for certification at the earliest, in order to obtain certification by the date when the QCO comes into force.