BIS Certification for Food Products: Complete Guide to Standards, Process and Requirements

BIS Certification for Food Products is an important compliance topic for food manufacturers, processors, and businesses selling products in India. However, there is a common misunderstanding that every food item must carry a BIS licence or ISI Mark. That is not the case. BIS certification is generally voluntary, while the Central Government makes certification compulsory for specific products through applicable notifications and Quality Control Orders.

For a food business, the right approach is to identify the product, check the applicable Indian Standard, and then confirm whether BIS certification is currently mandatory. This small step can prevent unnecessary applications, testing expenses, and compliance problems.

What Is BIS Certification for Food Products?

The Bureau of Indian Standards develops Indian Standards for products, materials, processes, and services. Its product certification system allows manufacturers to demonstrate that their products conform to the relevant standard.

When certification is compulsory, the manufacturer must obtain the appropriate BIS licence or Certificate of Conformity and comply with the conditions applicable to the product. The requirement for compulsory certification is introduced by the Central Government for reasons such as consumer safety, public health, environmental protection, and prevention of unfair trade practices.

For food products, the regulatory position needs particular attention because some food-related standards that previously appeared in the compulsory BIS list have been de-notified from compulsory certification. BIS currently identifies products such as milk powder, condensed milk, packaged drinking water, packaged natural mineral water, and certain complementary foods as de-notified from compulsory BIS certification.

Is BIS Certification Mandatory for Every Food Product?

No.

Having an Indian Standard for a food product does not automatically mean that the manufacturer must obtain a BIS licence. The business needs to establish whether the product is currently covered by a compulsory certification requirement.

Before starting the certification process, check:

• Product name and category

• Applicable Indian Standard

• Current BIS certification status

• Relevant Quality Control Order or government notification

• Product-specific BIS requirements

• Other food safety regulations applicable to the product

BIS maintains an official list of products under compulsory certification, which should be checked before relying on older articles, brochures, or third-party information.

BIS Certification and FSSAI Are Different

Another common confusion is treating BIS and FSSAI compliance as the same thing.

They are separate regulatory frameworks. BIS is India's national standards body and operates conformity assessment schemes, while FSSAI is responsible for food safety regulation under the food safety framework.

A food business may therefore need to comply with FSSAI requirements even when BIS certification is not compulsory. Conversely, if a particular product is brought under mandatory BIS certification, meeting other food regulations does not remove the BIS requirement.

Businesses should review both sets of requirements instead of assuming that one certificate covers everything.

Which Food Products Have BIS Standards?

BIS has developed Indian Standards covering many types of food products and food-related materials. But the existence of a standard should not be confused with compulsory certification.

For example, BIS has product-specific information and standards covering different food products, ingredients, and related materials. These standards may specify requirements concerning composition, raw materials, quality parameters, sampling, packaging, marking, and testing.

The current BIS product-specific information section provides access to product manuals, Scheme of Inspection and Testing documents, and grouping guidelines.

This makes it easier for manufacturers to understand what would be expected if their product falls under an applicable certification scheme.

BIS Certification Process for Applicable Food Products

If a particular food product is subject to mandatory BIS certification, the manufacturer needs to prepare the facility and documentation before applying.

1. Identify the Correct Indian Standard

The first step is to determine which Indian Standard applies to the product.

The product description should be precise. Ingredients, formulation, intended use, processing method, and product category may all be relevant when determining the appropriate standard.

Choosing the wrong standard at the beginning can lead to unsuitable testing and unnecessary delays.

2. Check Whether Certification Is Compulsory

Once the relevant standard has been identified, check the current BIS compulsory-certification list and applicable government notification.

This is particularly important for food products because the regulatory status of some products has changed over time. BIS currently lists several food-related products as de-notified from compulsory certification.

3. Prepare the Manufacturing Facility

Where a BIS licence is required, the manufacturer must have suitable production infrastructure, process controls, quality-control arrangements, and testing capabilities.

BIS states that manufacturers seeking a product certification licence need the appropriate manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, quality control, and testing capability for the relevant Indian Standard.

For food manufacturers, maintaining consistent production conditions is especially important because the quality of the finished product can depend on raw materials, processing conditions, storage, and handling.

4. Arrange Product Testing

Testing requirements depend on the relevant Indian Standard and certification scheme.

The manufacturer needs to ensure that required tests can be performed through the appropriate testing arrangement. Records should also be maintained properly so that the manufacturer can demonstrate continued conformity.

Food products can have specific requirements for physical, chemical, microbiological, compositional, or other quality parameters depending on the standard.

5. Submit the BIS Application

BIS accepts product certification applications through its online system. The application should contain accurate information about the manufacturer, factory, product, manufacturing process, testing arrangements, and quality-control system.

Documentation should be checked carefully before submission. Differences between product specifications, test reports, labels, and application details can result in questions during the assessment.

6. Factory Assessment and Conformity Evaluation

For applicable product certification, BIS evaluates the manufacturer's ability to consistently produce goods conforming to the relevant standard.

BIS explains that licensing involves assessment of manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, quality control, and testing capabilities. Product conformity may be established through third-party laboratory testing, testing at the manufacturing premises, or a combination of both, depending on the applicable procedure.

Documents Commonly Required

The exact documentation depends on the food product and certification scheme. However, manufacturers should generally be prepared with information such as:

• Company and factory details

• Manufacturing process

• Product specifications

• Raw-material information

• Quality-control procedures

• Testing arrangements

• Testing equipment details

• Competent technical personnel information

• Product labels and marking details

• Test reports

• Factory layout

• Process-flow information

• Required declarations and undertakings

Product-specific BIS manuals should always be checked because they can contain additional requirements relating to testing, sampling, inspection, and quality control.

Common Mistakes Food Manufacturers Should Avoid

A few mistakes repeatedly create problems during certification projects.

One is assuming that every food product requires BIS certification. Another is relying on an old standard or outdated government notification.

Manufacturers should also avoid:

• Selecting the wrong Indian Standard

• Ignoring product-specific testing requirements

• Maintaining incomplete quality records

• Submitting inconsistent product information

• Applying before the factory is ready

• Confusing BIS certification with FSSAI compliance

• Failing to monitor changes in compulsory certification requirements

Professional compliance assistance from a service provider such as umspcs can be useful when a manufacturer needs support with standard identification, documentation, testing coordination, or the BIS application process.

Why Current BIS Information Matters

BIS requirements can change as standards are revised and government notifications are introduced or withdrawn. The official BIS website provides current information on compulsory certification, product-specific manuals, certification procedures, testing facilities, and related requirements.

For food manufacturers, checking the latest information before starting a certification project is much safer than relying on an old checklist found online.

Conclusion

BIS certification can play an important role in food-product compliance, but not every food product automatically requires a BIS licence. The actual requirement depends on the product, applicable Indian Standard, and current government notification.

Manufacturers should first identify their product correctly and check the latest BIS compulsory-certification list. If certification is mandatory, the next steps involve preparing the manufacturing facility, arranging appropriate testing, compiling technical documents, submitting the application, and demonstrating conformity with the applicable standard.

A careful review at the beginning can save a business from unnecessary testing and paperwork while ensuring that the correct regulatory route is followed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is BIS certification mandatory for all food products?

No. BIS certification is generally voluntary unless the Central Government makes compliance compulsory for a particular product through the applicable regulatory mechanism.

2. Does every food product with an Indian Standard need an ISI Mark?

No. The existence of an Indian Standard does not automatically make BIS certification compulsory. The current compulsory-certification status must be checked separately.

3. Is BIS certification the same as an FSSAI licence?

No. BIS certification and FSSAI compliance are separate requirements and serve different regulatory purposes.

4. Can the BIS status of a food product change?

Yes. Products can be brought under compulsory certification or removed from compulsory certification depending on government decisions and applicable notifications. BIS currently lists several food-related products as de-notified from compulsory certification.

5. What does BIS check before granting a product certification licence?

Depending on the applicable scheme, BIS can assess manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, quality-control systems, testing capabilities, and product conformity with the relevant Indian Standard.

6. Where can manufacturers check current BIS requirements?

Manufacturers should refer to the official BIS website for the current compulsory-certification list, product-specific information, product manuals, testing facilities, and certification procedures.