CRS vs ISI vs FMCS: Which BIS Certification Do You Need? [Decision Guide]

The most expensive mistake in BIS certification isn't the testing fee | it's applying for the wrong scheme. If you file CRS when you need ISI, or ISI when you need FMCS, you don't just waste money. You still don't have the legally required certification, and your products remain unsaleable in India. This guide gives you the exact decision flow.

The 30-Second Decision Rule

First: identify your exact product and its Indian Standard (IS number). Second: check if it's on the CRS (Scheme II) list. Third: look at where your factory is located. The scheme follows the product, not the applicant.

Decision Flow: Which Scheme Applies to You

Scenario 1: Indian Manufacturer Making Products in India

→ Use CRS if the exact product is on the Scheme II / CRS list. Otherwise use ISI / Scheme I. Never FMCS.

Scenario 2: Importer Buying from a Foreign Factory

→ You do NOT become the BIS certificate holder. The foreign manufacturer must hold the correct BIS approval: CRS for CRS-listed goods, or FMCS for foreign-made Scheme I goods. Under CRS, BIS is explicit: the registration number belongs to the manufacturer, not the importer.

Scenario 3: Foreign Factory Exporting to India

→ CRS for electronics/IT products specifically notified under CRS. FMCS for everything else that needs the BIS Standard Mark.

Scenario 4: Amazon Seller Sourcing from Indian Distributor

→ If you're only reselling an unchanged finished product under the same brand, you normally don't file BIS yourself. You verify the upstream manufacturer has the correct approval. If you rebrand or private-label, you need to revisit the scheme | CRS registration is tied to manufacturer + factory + product + brand.

Scenario 5: Amazon Seller Sourcing Directly from China

→ The Chinese factory needs the certification, not you. CRS-listed product = Chinese manufacturer needs CRS through an AIR. Non-CRS product = Chinese manufacturer needs FMCS.

CRS vs ISI vs FMCS: Full Comparison Table

The Most Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: "I'm the importer, so I apply for BIS"

Wrong. CRS registration belongs to the manufacturer, linked to its factory location, product, and brand. Importers verify their supplier's BIS | they don't become the certificate holder. Supplier test reports are also explicitly not acceptable as a substitute.

Mistake 2: "It's electronic, so it must be CRS"

Wrong. CRS only covers products specifically listed under Scheme II. Many products with electrical parts, plugs, or motors fall under Scheme I / FMCS instead. Additionally, some 2025-2026 machinery and electrical categories now enter Scheme X | which means CRS/ISI/FMCS is the wrong starting point entirely.

Mistake 3: "One BIS certificate covers all my factories and brands"

Wrong. Under CRS, you need separate registration per brand at the same location AND separate registration per manufacturing location. Under Scheme I, separate applications per product/standard/factory. Under FMCS, separate application per product/standard/factory premises.

How to Confirm the Right Scheme Before Paying

• 1. Identify your exact product and Indian Standard (IS number)
• Check if it's on the CRS (Scheme II) list | if yes, use CRS
• If not CRS, check the QCO: factory in India = ISI, factory abroad = FMCS
• Check who is legally eligible to apply (manufacturer, not trader)
• Verify the expected mark: R-number = CRS, CM/L number = ISI/FMCS
• If the product appears in Scheme X materials, stop and reassess

2025-2026 Changes You Need to Know

• In-house lab no longer mandatory for most Scheme I products (Dec 2025 circular) | shared facilities, cluster labs, and external ISO 17025 labs now accepted. Excludes cement, food, helmets, and PESO items.
• CRS licence validity extended to 5 years (May 2026 circular) | fees still payable annually in advance.
• Annual advance fee payment now mandatory for all schemes (Feb 2026 amendment) | non-payment triggers automatic suspension.
• FMCS moved to online-only filing from 1 June 2026 | hard-copy applications no longer accepted.
• IS/IEC 62368-1 migration: old standards (IS 13252 Part 1, IS 616) run concurrently until 1 Nov 2028, then withdrawn. File against the new standard for new applications.
• MSME concessions available: 80% off processing fee for micro/startup (CRS), scaled marking fees for small/micro (ISI).

Still unsure which scheme applies to your product? Use our free BIS Checker | enter your product name and get an instant answer on which scheme applies, the applicable IS standard, estimated cost, and timeline.