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 BIS 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 CRS 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:

1. Household electrical appliances
2. Commercial electrical appliances
3. Heating appliances
4. Cooking appliances
5. Cleaning appliances
6. Personal-care appliances
7. Electrical motor-operated appliances
8. Commercial kitchen equipment
9. Outdoor electrical appliances
10. Humidifiers
11. Fabric steamers
12. Vaporizers
13. Commercial electric hoods
14. Electrolysers
15. Personal-e-transporters
16. Skin beauty-care appliances
17. Furniture with electrically motorized parts
18. Commercial vacuum packaging appliances
19. Hand-held electric engraving tools
20. DC/battery-operated vacuum cleaners
21. DC/battery-operated shavers and trimmers
22. DC/battery-operated massage appliances
23. DC/battery-operated blenders and juicers
24. DC/battery-operated toothbrushes and oral-hygiene appliances
25. DC/battery-operated foot warmers and heating mats
26. 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. Read more about BIS Certificate for Foreign Manufacturers.

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?

No, 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 QCO 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 in India.

UMSPCS – UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd. provides BIS consultancy and product-compliance support for manufacturers planning to sell electrical appliances in India.

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.