A Quality Control Order (QCO) is how the central government makes compliance with an Indian Standard mandatory for a product. BIS says its certification is essentially voluntary, but the government can make it compulsory on grounds such as public interest, health, environment and preventing unfair trade practices, by issuing a QCO that requires the Standard Mark under a BIS licence or a Certificate of Conformity.
Why do QCOs matter to e-commerce sellers?
If your product falls under a QCO, a marketplace can ask for your BIS licence or registration, and selling without it can bring penalties. BIS lists several schemes for compulsory certification, including Scheme I (ISI mark), Scheme II (registration) and Scheme IV (Certificate of Conformity). Check the product list on that page for your category. Our guides to BIS compliance by category and the BIS certificate for marketplace sellers go category by category.
How many QCOs exist, and what changed?
Business Today, citing a September 2025 CSEP working paper, reported QCOs rising from 88 in 2019 to 765 in 2024. On 13 November 2025 the government rolled back QCOs on nearly two dozen industrial inputs in textiles, plastics and mining, and more withdrawals were expected. The article also says the Gauba Committee recommended limiting QCOs to consumer-facing or safety-critical products.
What to do
Look up your product in the BIS compulsory certification list before you list it, and keep the licence number ready for the marketplace. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm with a compliance consultant. We have not confirmed which QCOs are current in 2026, so check BIS's own "upcoming QCOs" and "all QCOs" pages.
How do I know if my product is covered?
BIS's compulsory certification page lists the schemes and links to "all QCOs" and to upcoming QCOs that are notified but not yet in force, with implementation dates. Match your product's description and HS or Indian Standard number to a QCO entry. Marketplaces may also ask for the BIS licence or registration number during listing, but the rules of each marketplace are published inside their seller portals.
What happens if you sell a covered product without certification?
Enforcement has reached online platforms; our page on CCPA action on non-BIS toys covers CCPA penalties on non-BIS toys. For raids on warehouses, see BIS raids on e-commerce warehouses.
Blooprint, a Bengaluru e-commerce agency, helps get compliance fields right through catalogue and listing optimisation.