BIS Notifies New Safety QCO 2026: 90 Electrical Appliances Under Mandatory Certification
The Government of India has notified the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026, introducing mandatory BIS certification requirements for a wide range of electrical appliances.
The new QCO was notified on 6 April 2026 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Order supersedes the earlier 2025 QCO and comes into force from 1 October 2026.
The QCO covers 90 specified electrical appliance categories, making it an important regulatory development for manufacturers, importers and foreign companies supplying electrical products to India.
For products covered by the Order, the applicable Indian Standard must be followed and the product must bear the BIS Standard Mark under a BIS licence through Scheme-I, subject to the provisions and implementation dates specified in the QCO.
What Is the BIS Safety QCO 2026?
A Quality Control Order (QCO) is issued by the Government to make compliance with specified Indian Standards mandatory for identified products.
BIS explains that although BIS certification is generally voluntary, the Government can make certification compulsory for specific products through QCOs for reasons including public safety, health, environmental protection, and prevention of unfair trade practices.
The new Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026 applies to electrical appliances intended for household, commercial or similar applications within specified voltage limits.
The QCO applies to:
Single-phase appliances with rated voltage up to 250 V
Other appliances with rated voltage up to 480 V
DC-supplied appliances
Battery-operated appliances
However, electrical appliances already covered by another applicable QCO or another mandatory BIS certification requirement are excluded from the scope of this Order.
90 Electrical Appliance Categories Covered
The 2026 QCO contains a table covering 90 electrical appliance categories.
Some of the categories included are:
Household electrical appliances
Commercial electrical appliances
Heating appliances
Cooking appliances
Cleaning appliances
Personal-care appliances
Electrical motor-operated appliances
Commercial kitchen equipment
Outdoor electrical appliances
Humidifiers
Fabric steamers
Vaporizers
Commercial electric hoods
Electrolysers
Personal-e-transporters
Skin beauty-care appliances
Furniture with electrically motorized parts
Commercial vacuum packaging appliances
Hand-held electric engraving tools
DC/battery-operated vacuum cleaners
DC/battery-operated shavers and trimmers
DC/battery-operated massage appliances
DC/battery-operated blenders and juicers
DC/battery-operated toothbrushes and oral-hygiene appliances
DC/battery-operated foot warmers and heating mats
DC/battery-operated air purifiers
The official notification contains the complete table of 90 products and their corresponding Indian Standards.
When Will the New BIS QCO 2026 Come Into Force?
The Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026 comes into force on:
1 October 2026
From the applicable implementation date, manufacturers and other affected businesses need to comply with the requirements specified in the QCO for products within its scope.
The QCO also specifies separate implementation dates for small and micro enterprises for the respective products, as provided in the notification. Manufacturers should therefore check the relevant entry in the official schedule rather than relying on a single date for every business category.
What Does the New QCO Mean for Manufacturers?
Manufacturers of covered electrical appliances need to review their product portfolio and identify whether their products fall under the new QCO.
Businesses should assess:
Product category
Applicable Indian Standard
Product specifications
Testing requirements
Manufacturing facilities
Quality-control systems
Required technical documentation
BIS application requirements
Applicable implementation date
Manufacturers should begin the compliance process early rather than waiting until the QCO becomes effective.
Impact on Foreign Manufacturers
The 2026 QCO is particularly relevant to foreign manufacturers exporting electrical appliances to India.
Manufacturers located outside India may need to obtain BIS certification under the applicable foreign-manufacturer certification process where required.
This can affect manufacturers from countries including:
China
Vietnam
Malaysia
Japan
South Korea
Taiwan
Germany
Italy
Spain
United States
United Kingdom
Other exporting countries
Foreign manufacturers should first determine the exact Indian Standard applicable to their product and then assess the certification pathway.
BIS Certification Process for Electrical Appliances
For products requiring BIS certification, the process generally involves several stages.
1. Product Applicability Assessment
Determine whether the product is covered by the QCO and identify the applicable Indian Standard.
2. Technical Documentation
Prepare product specifications, drawings, manufacturing information and other required documents.
3. Product Testing
Testing must be carried out according to the applicable Indian Standard and certification requirements.
4. Factory Assessment
The manufacturing facility may need to demonstrate suitable production controls, testing facilities and quality-control arrangements.
5. BIS Application
Submit the application through the applicable BIS certification process.
6. Assessment and Compliance
BIS evaluates the application, product conformity and applicable manufacturing requirements.
7. BIS Licence
Once the applicable requirements are successfully fulfilled, the manufacturer may obtain the BIS licence and use the Standard Mark according to the licence conditions.
BIS's product-certification framework includes assessment of manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, quality control, and testing capabilities.
Is This the Same as BIS CRS?
This distinction is particularly important for manufacturers and exporters.
The Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) under Scheme-II covers specified electronics and IT goods. BIS maintains a separate list for products covered by the CRS framework.
The new Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances QCO 2026 is a separate regulatory framework and requires the Standard Mark under the applicable BIS certification scheme specified in the QCO.
Therefore, manufacturers should not automatically assume that a product covered by the new electrical-appliance QCO should be treated as a CRS product.
The correct certification route depends on the specific product and applicable notification.
What Should Manufacturers Do Before October 2026?
Manufacturers supplying electrical appliances to India should consider the following steps:
Check Your Product
Review every electrical appliance in your product portfolio against the QCO.
Identify the Indian Standard
Determine the Indian Standard listed against the applicable product category.
Review Existing Test Reports
Existing international or foreign test reports should be reviewed to determine whether they can support the Indian certification process.
Check Factory Requirements
Review manufacturing processes, quality-control systems and testing capabilities.
Prepare Documentation
Organize technical documents before starting the certification application.
Start Certification Early
Testing, documentation, factory assessment and certification can require coordination. Starting early can help manufacturers address compliance requirements before the applicable implementation date.
How UMSPCS Can Help with BIS QCO 2026
UMSPCS – UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd. helps Indian and foreign manufacturers understand BIS certification requirements for products entering the Indian market.
For electrical appliances covered by the 2026 QCO, UMSPCS can provide support with:
BIS QCO applicability assessment
Indian Standard identification
Product compliance review
Documentation preparation
Testing coordination
BIS application support
Factory audit preparation
Foreign manufacturer certification guidance
BIS licence-related support
Compliance planning for the Indian market
Our team can help manufacturers determine the applicable certification pathway based on their specific product.
Why QCO 2026 Matters for International Manufacturers
For international manufacturers, India's expanding product-certification framework means that regulatory compliance should be considered before shipment.
A manufacturer may already have:
CE certification
IEC test reports
ISO certification
International laboratory reports
Other country-specific approvals
However, these documents do not automatically replace an applicable mandatory BIS certification requirement in India.
Manufacturers should therefore conduct a product-specific Indian compliance assessment.
Conclusion
The Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026 represents an important development in India's electrical product compliance framework.
The Order covers 90 specified electrical appliance categories and comes into force from 1 October 2026, subject to the product-specific implementation provisions in the notification.
Manufacturers and foreign exporters should review their products, identify the applicable Indian Standards, prepare documentation and testing, and understand the relevant BIS certification process.
UMSPCS – UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd. provides BIS consultancy and product-compliance support for manufacturers planning to sell electrical appliances in India.
Need help with the new BIS QCO 2026?
Contact UMSPCS for a BIS applicability assessment.
Phone: +91 7011067811WhatsApp: https://wa.me/917011067811
Website: https://umspcs.in/
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the new BIS Safety QCO 2026?
It is the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026, notified by the Government of India on 6 April 2026. It introduces mandatory BIS certification requirements for specified electrical appliances.
2. How many electrical appliances are covered?
The QCO contains 90 specified electrical appliance categories with corresponding Indian Standards.
3. When does the new QCO 2026 become effective?
The Order comes into force on 1 October 2026, with separate implementation dates specified for small and micro enterprises in the applicable product entries.
4. Does the QCO apply to battery-operated appliances?
Yes. The 2026 Order expressly includes DC-supplied and battery-operated appliances within its scope, subject to the exclusions and product-specific provisions of the Order.
5. Is the new QCO the same as BIS CRS?
No. CRS is a separate BIS Scheme-II registration framework for specified electronics and IT products. The electrical-appliance QCO follows the certification route specified in its own notification.
6. Does the QCO apply to foreign manufacturers?
The Order applies to covered products supplied to the Indian market, and foreign manufacturers should assess the applicable BIS certification requirements for their products before export.
7. Can UMSPCS help with BIS QCO 2026?
Yes. UMSPCS can support manufacturers with product applicability assessment, Indian Standard identification, documentation, testing coordination, BIS certification and foreign-manufacturer compliance support.
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