On 9 January 2024, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued implementation guidelines for parallel testing under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for electronics. The guidelines cover all electronic products in the CRS list and will be implemented permanently. This follows the pilot scheme for mobile phone cells, batteries and handsets themselves issued on 19 December 2022 and the addition on 12 June 2023 of (1) wireless headsets and earphones and (2) laptops, notebooks and tablets to the pilot list, and represents a much broader implementation of parallel testing.

Previously, under a BIS application, if both the product and its safety-critical components were regulated products, each required BIS approval and had to be applied for in sequence; testing of the product could only begin after the safety-critical components had been approved, which lengthened the certification cycle. Under the parallel testing guidelines, the product and its components can be tested and submitted at the same time, thereby shortening the cycle.

How manufacturers should proceed

Testing stage

All products requiring BIS-CRS registration may undergo parallel testing in BIS-recognised laboratories.

In parallel testing, the laboratory tests the first component and issues a test report.

The CDF for the second component no longer needs to state the R-num of the first component; it only needs to mention the laboratory name and the test report number.

Any further components or the final product follow the same procedure.

Registration stage

BIS will still complete the registration of components and the final product in sequence.

Notes and precautions on parallel testing

(1) These parallel testing guidelines apply to electronic products covered by the compulsory certification scheme. The scheme remains voluntary, and manufacturers may still apply for registration under the previous application process.

(2) Parallel testing of all components must be carried out in BIS-recognised laboratories. Under this scheme, the laboratory tests the first component and issues a test report; the number of this test report and the testing laboratory will be noted in the test report of the second component, and so on up to the test report of the final product.

(3) Project approval and certification of components will be completed by BIS progressively.

(4) When submitting samples to the laboratory and submitting the application to BIS for registration, the manufacturer shall provide a declaration confirming the following:

The manufacturer will bear all risks of this parallel testing scheme, including financial ones, for example if any application is subsequently rejected due to test failure of the sample or incompleteness of the report. BIS has the final decision-making authority.

The manufacturer should not supply, sell or produce the product on the market before the product has obtained valid registration (BIS number).

The manufacturer should apply for a component change immediately after obtaining valid registration of the product, reporting the valid BIS number in the next report.

If a component is a product on the compulsory registration list, the manufacturer is responsible for each relevant component with respect to the BIS registration number.

The responsibility for linking an application with previously submitted applications in the chain lies with the manufacturer.