BIS FMCS Certification for Foreign Manufacturers: Process, Fees, Factory Audit & Timeline

If your factory is outside India and your product is covered by a BIS Quality Control Order, you cannot ship it to India until the factory holds a BIS licence. For ISI mark products, the route is the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).

In short: under FMCS the overseas factory appoints an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR), applies to BIS, hosts a BIS inspection at the factory, has samples tested in India, gives a USD 10,000 bank guarantee and then marks its products with the ISI mark and its CM/L licence number. BIS indicates about six months on average from a complete application.

What Is FMCS and Which Products Does It Cover?

FMCS is the overseas version of the ISI mark scheme (Scheme-I of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018). It applies to products such as:

• Steel and stainless steel products
• Industrial chemicals and polymers
• Household electrical appliances under the IS 302 series
• Electrical accessories, cables and switchgear
• Toys under IS 9873 and IS 15644
• Pressure cookers, helmets, footwear and many other notified products

Electronics and IT goods are not covered by FMCS. Products such as adaptors, laptops, LED lamps and lithium batteries follow the Compulsory Registration Scheme, even when made abroad.

Who Can Apply?

The licence is issued to the manufacturing factory. Importers, trading companies and brand owners cannot hold it. If you buy from a factory, that factory must apply. The licence then covers the brands and varieties named in it.

The Role of the Authorised Indian Representative

Every FMCS applicant must nominate an AIR, a person or company resident in India who:

• Countersigns the application
• Is the contact point for BIS in India
• Shares legal responsibility for the licence and the marked products

Choose the AIR carefully. BIS can hold the AIR responsible if marked products are found to fail.

FMCS Process: Step by Step

1. Confirm the standard and the factory's readiness

Identify the Indian Standard, the varieties you want covered and the in-house tests the BIS product manual expects. The factory must be able to test to the Indian Standard, not only to ISO, EN or ASTM.

2. Prepare the application and technical file

The application includes factory details, contact person and AIR, management details, raw materials, production and process flow chart, factory layout, test equipment list and quality control plan, with undertakings. Documents in other languages need certified English translations.

3. Submit and pay the application fee

BIS records the application once it is complete and the fee is paid. Missing documents are the most common reason for an early pause.

4. Factory inspection

BIS officers visit the factory. They check production, raw material control, in-house testing and records, see tests performed, and draw samples. The applicant pays the inspection charges and the officers' travel, visa, insurance and per diem.

5. Sample testing in India

The samples are sent by the applicant to a BIS lab or BIS-recognised lab in India and tested against the Indian Standard. Foreign test reports are not accepted in place of this testing.

6. Grant of licence

If the inspection and test results are satisfactory and fees are paid, BIS grants the licence and the CM/L number. The manufacturer signs an agreement and indemnity bond and gives a USD 10,000 performance bank guarantee from a bank with a branch in India.

7. Marking and surveillance

Products must carry the ISI mark, the IS number and the CM/L licence number. BIS keeps checking through surveillance inspections and factory and market samples.

FMCS Fees

Item	Amount
Application fee (non-refundable)	₹1,000, paid in USD by non-SAARC applicants
Inspection (special visit) charges	₹7,000 per officer per day
Travel, visa, insurance and per diem for BIS officers	Actual, as per BIS norms
Contingency deposit	₹10,000
Testing charges	As per the lab and standard
Annual licence fee	₹1,000
Minimum marking fee	Set per product standard, paid in advance each year
Performance bank guarantee	USD 10,000, after grant

Non-SAARC applicants pay all fees in US dollars. Applicants from SAARC countries may pay in rupees with GST or in US dollars. Bank charges and exchange differences are borne by the applicant.

Validity and Renewal

Under the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Amendment Regulations, 2026, Scheme-I licences can be granted and renewed for periods of up to five years. Fees are payable every year in advance. Non-payment by the due date can lead to suspension.

How Long Does FMCS Take?

BIS states an average of about six months from the date a complete application is recorded. What stretches it:

• Queries on the application that take weeks to answer
• Delays in fixing inspection dates and getting visas for officers
• Slow sample shipping to India or failures in testing
• Delays in paying fees or furnishing the bank guarantee

Common Mistakes

• Testing only to international standards. The factory must test to the Indian Standard.
• A weak AIR. An AIR who cannot respond quickly slows every stage.
• Unprepared factory records. Officers expect calibration records, test records and raw material checks to be ready.
• Applying in the importer's name. Only the factory can be licensed.

How Instacertify Helps

We act as your Authorised Indian Representative, prepare the application and technical file, run a pre-audit of the factory, coordinate the BIS inspection, ship and track samples to labs in India and handle queries until grant. See our BIS FMCS certification service.