BIS CERTIFICATION FOR TOYS

BIS Certificate for Toys - Overview

Safety is most important while dealing with toys for children. Dangerous toys can create serious hazards like choking, bodily injury, and health hazards from poisonous plastics, paints, or fabric materials. To combat this, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) releases stringent safety specifications through BIS certification for toys to ensure that toys must comply with the requirements of physical, mechanical, chemical, and electrical safety. The standard specifications must be compatible with global requirements by organizations like ISO and IEC to safeguard children from hazards.

A BIS licence is a mandatory requirement for both electrical and non-electrical toy manufacturers in India. Toys carrying the ISI Mark (a symbol of quality and safety) can only be imported or sold in the Indian market. If a manufacturer wants to manufacture and sell toys in India, they must comply with the required Indian standards as mandated by the Bureau of Indian Standards. BIS has categorized the Indian standard for the safety of electric toys under IS 15644:2006. While non-electric toys must comply with the safety standards outlined under IS 9873 (Part 1 to 9).

Toys Quality Control Order (QCO), 2020

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, introduced the Toys Quality Control Order (QCO) in 2020 as part of the BIS Act 2016. As per this QCO, BIS certification is mandatory for toy manufacturers to use the standard ISI mark on their products for uninterrupted manufacturing and selling in the Indian market. BIS regularly conducts raids in various parts of the country to determine whether the toys on the market meet the necessary criteria or not. Selling toys without the ISI mark could result in severe penalties and seizure of the products.

This means that all those who manufacture, import, sell, keep for selling, or rent toys are bound to fulfill such safety specifications and label products with the ISI mark. Toys without the ISI mark are not allowed to be sold and distributed legally within India.

Indian Standards for Toy Safety

The BIS certification is based on seven key Indian Standards outlined in the Toys QCO. These standards are aligned with international norms set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Below are the normal steps for obtaining BIS certification for toys:

Below are the documents required for BIS certification of toys:

BIS certification costs may vary depending on the type of toy, the level of testing required, and applicable application, inspection, and surveillance fees. Manufacturers are advised to consult BIS directly or seek professional assistance from consultants such as EVTL India for accurate cost details.

BIS certification offers multiple advantages to manufacturers, consumers, and the toy industry as a whole:

BIS actively monitors compliance through its market and factory surveillance programs. By January 2023, nearly 2,500 toy samples had been tested from various manufacturers and sellers, with an impressive compliance rate of about 83%. In cases where non-compliance was detected, manufacturers were instructed to undertake corrective actions.

To maintain strict adherence, BIS conducts enforcement raids to seize non-compliant toys. Such efforts help maintain the integrity of the certification process and protect consumers from substandard products. BIS engages with the toy industry to facilitate smooth implementation of standards and address any concerns that manufacturers may have. This interaction includes training courses that educate manufacturers on quality control and testing procedures, thereby enhancing their ability to produce safe and compliant toys.

Toy importers and manufacturers must obtain a BIS certificate/license to use the standard ISI mark for toys. Toys without the ISI mark are not permitted to be sold in the country.

EVTL India is one of the leading BIS consultants in India, helping manufacturers of toys in securing a BIS license for their products. With our decade of experience in the compliance secretary, we offer a start-to-end consultation solution from application submission, documentation, till the grant of license. Looking to secure your BIS license hassle-free? Contact our expert team today.