The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is making bold moves to ensure consumer safety by targeting non-compliant goods sold through major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart. In a series of recent raids across cities like Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi, BIS seized a significant volume of products lacking mandatory certifications, exposing a widespread issue within online retail.
On March 7, 2025, a raid at an Amazon warehouse in Lucknow uncovered 215 toys and 24 hand blenders that lacked mandatory BIS certifications. A similar operation in February at Amazon’s Gurugram warehouse revealed 58 aluminum foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, seven PVC cables, two food mixers, and one speaker—all non-compliant with mandatory standards.
Flipkart warehouses were also under scrutiny. At their Gurugram facility, BIS seized 534 vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers without BIS certification. Investigations linked these unsafe products to Techvision International Pvt Ltd. Raids on Techvision’s Delhi facilities revealed approximately 7,000 uncertified electric water heaters, 4,000 food mixers, 95 room heaters, and 40 gas stoves, among other items. Non-compliant brands seized included popular names like Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly.
Legal action has been initiated under the BIS Act of 2016, with Techvision International facing multiple court cases for violating Sections 17(1) and 17(3). Under these provisions, violators could face fines starting at ₹200,000 (approximately $2,400) but potentially extending to ten times the value of the uncertified goods sold. Severe violations may also result in imprisonment of up to two years.
BIS is amplifying its market surveillance to identify and address non-certified goods on platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket. During these inspections, products like pressure cookers, blenders, gas stoves, helmets, switches, and aluminum foils were tested for compliance. Any product lacking the required ISI Mark or displaying an invalid license number was classified as unsafe, posing significant risks to consumers.
The findings highlight the need for e-commerce platforms to enhance their due diligence processes to ensure all listed goods meet BIS certification standards. In response, BIS has issued warnings to these platforms to restrict the sale of uncertified products.
Consumers are being urged to verify product authenticity using the BIS Care app, which allows users to check ISI Marks, validate certification numbers, and lodge complaints against non-compliant products. The app aims to empower buyers while BIS continues its mission to create safer marketplaces and uphold product quality across India.
This wave of seizures and actions underscores the importance of stringent oversight in the e-commerce sector, as India moves decisively to safeguard public interests and ensure compliance with national safety standards.
