BIS-CRS Market Surveillance: Safeguarding India’s Consumer

India is one of the largest consumer markets, where millions of products are sold daily. But are these products safe to use? That’s where BIS-CRS market surveillance, which is a part of the Product Safety Regulatory process, comes as a saviour, as ensuring compliance and safety on such a massive scale has always been a challenge for regulatory authorities.

Market surveillance, in simple words, is a raid, process to monitor and ensure that products falling under the regulation are being sold in the India Market by following proper regulations and prescribed mark. 

Every regulation has this process to ensure safety, quality, efficiency other factors of the product/services across all sectors. 

So, this blog focuses on the process of BIS-CRS market surveillance, a scheme implemented in 2012 to regulate electronic and IT products under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Compliance with BIS-CRS regulations is mandatory for all products covered under this scheme.  

History of BIS-CRS Market Surveillance 

Year	Event/Details
2012	MeitY notified the Compulsory Registration Order (CRO) under the BIS Act, 1986.
2016 -2018	As part of the process, BIS contacts the applicant to request a sample, which must be sent to a selected lab for product surveillance.  Through this process, several non-compliant products were identified, leading to the cancellation of R-numbers. However, for unknown reasons, details of the non-compliant applicants (brand, factory, or Indian representative) were not made public.  Additionally, the factory was restricted from submitting new applications for non-compliant products for a certain period.
2019-2021	Market Surveillance was not conducted for unspecified reasons during this period.
28th April, 2022	MeitY revised the surveillance process and entrusted STPI with the responsibility. STPI formulated a process and collected the process fee.    At this stage, it appeared to be a move towards resuming the surveillance process, with the introduction of a dedicated portal for communication between the applicant (factory) and the surveillance team.  And applicants were asked to submit the fee in advance.  However, for unknown reasons, the activity was halted, and the collected fees were later refunded.
5th July, 2024	MeitY reassigned STPI with the responsibility of market surveillance.   This time with the surveillance process was as follows,  Samples are being raided anywhere across India, and the applicant is being asked to send the sample/s from a specific place, which can be a shop, a warehouse or others, to the lab.  After samples are received, the respective agency checks the samples and the BIS safety test report and further action is taken.

Key Challenges Faced in BIS-CRS Market Surveillance Implementation

One of the biggest challenges in implementing BIS-CRS market surveillance is keeping up with the fast-growing and ever-changing electronics market. Every day, new products and technologies are being introduced—especially in categories like batteries, earbuds, and smart gadgets—which makes it difficult for authorities to monitor everything effectively. Due to this, unsafe or poor-quality products sometimes reach consumers and may cause serious issues like overheating or explosions. 

Another challenge is the lack of regular and consistent surveillance. In some years, no surveillance activities were conducted at all, which allowed non-compliant products to stay in the market. 

Also, when non-compliance is found, there is very little public information shared about the brands or factories involved. This lack of transparency makes it hard for consumers to trust the system and for the market to learn from past mistakes. 

For example, on November 19, 2024, the Times of India reported that BIS had cancelled the registration of two Chinese battery suppliers suspected of violating compliance norms. The raid appears to have been conducted by the BIS, but no details or official confirmation have been provided. 

Overall, the scale of the Indian market, the rapid pace of innovation, and limited surveillance capacity make it difficult to ensure full compliance under the BIS-CRS scheme. 

Recommendations to Make BIS-CRS Surveillance Better

To make BIS-CRS surveillance more effective, there are a few important steps that can be taken. Some are mentioned below 

1. Transparency in Non-Compliance Data 

The data containing information about manufacturers caught during market surveillance for selling non-compliant products should be made public. This will not only increase transparency but will also increase consumer trust in the regulatory framework and the authorities responsible for consumer safety.   

Since India’s distribution network is vast, manufacturers may not always be aware of their product’s reach due to multiple supply chains and in this scenario, sometimes faulty products can land in the hands of the customer, which may cause some harm. To address this, at the very least, information such as factory name, model number, and product category of non-compliant entities should be disclosed.  

2. Regular and Efficient Surveillance 

Historically, market surveillance has not been conducted at regular intervals, increasing the risk of unethical practices in the consumer market. To minimise this risk, surveillance should be: 

• Conducted consistently 

• Implemented as a continuous process

3. Expanding Surveillance Responsibilities  

Only an entity named STPI is responsible for BIS-CRS market surveillance. Whereas the Indian market is one of the largest markets. To make this process effective and fast, the government should entrust more authorities, and if needed, private organisations can also be included to carry out this activity.  

4. Impact on Domestic and International Markets 

If surveillance is conducted regularly and effectively, it will create a sense of accountability among both foreign and domestic manufacturers, encouraging them to produce safe, high-quality, and durable products for the Indian market. Additionally, for domestic manufacturers, this provides a competitive edge in both the Indian and international markets. 

Why BIS-CRS Market Surveillance Matters?

Recent recalls of Indian spice products from global markets due to quality concerns have highlighted the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight. As the world’s largest producer and exporter of spices, India has an opportunity—and a responsibility—to set global benchmarks in product safety and compliance.

The same applies to the electronics sector. Ensuring that products manufactured in India meet international safety standards is not just about preventing reputational damage; it is also essential for building India’s identity as a reliable manufacturing hub. This is where robust market surveillance plays a critical role.

An effective surveillance system ensures that only compliant, high-quality products reach consumers, both in domestic and international markets. So, the BIS-CRS market surveillance framework can:

• Enhance India’s credibility in global trade
• Support the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative
• Build lasting trust among foreign investors and manufacturers

The BIS-CRS mark stands for safety and reliability, but its value depends on a transparent, consistent, and enforceable surveillance process. When implemented effectively, such a system can:

• Protect consumers from unsafe products
• Uphold product quality across the supply chain
• Strengthen India’s image as a global leader in manufacturing and compliance

With strategic reforms and a forward-thinking approach, India can not only address existing gaps but also become a global role model in product safety and regulatory excellence.

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At Vincular, we specialise in regulatory compliance and certification services, including BIS-CRS approvals. With our deep domain expertise and hands-on experience, we help manufacturers, importers, and brands tackle complex regulatory landscapes with ease.

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