A Softer On-Ramp to BIS Compliance: DPIIT's Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026

India has been rolling out Quality Control Orders (QCOs) across a widening list of products, each one making BIS certification mandatory before goods can be imported, made or sold. That tightening has sometimes outpaced the ability of supply chains to secure ISI-mark licences in time. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has responded with the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026, which opens a conditional, risk-based alternative route so that domestic industry is not left without compliant supply while it transitions. This note explains what the Order does, which products it touches, and how importers and manufacturers should read it.

What Happened

On 25 June 2026, DPIIT notified the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016. In essence, it lets domestic industry procure supplies from manufacturers holding a licence under Scheme-II of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 — rather than only under Scheme-I, the familiar ISI-mark scheme — for products covered by specified QCOs, subject to approval by a DPIIT-led committee and to conditions.

The alternative route is not automatic. Access is judged on factors such as technical capability, compliance history, and commitments to technology, design, research, innovation and strengthening the domestic supply chain. Applications are accepted for a defined window (reported at 24 months from commencement), and the Order itself is set to run for five years unless extended by a fresh notification.

Why This Matters / Background

A QCO makes BIS certification compulsory for a product category. Scheme-I (ISI mark) is the standard conformity route; Scheme-II is a different conformity-assessment pathway under the same BIS framework. When a QCO's mandatory date arrives before enough suppliers hold ISI-mark licences, manufacturers can face a genuine squeeze — the input they need becomes non-compliant to buy, even though demand and capacity exist.

The Transition Facilitation Order is designed to relieve exactly that pinch: a temporary, conditional bridge that keeps compliant supply flowing during the changeover, without abandoning quality oversight. It is a facilitation measure, not a dilution of standards — the goods still sit inside the BIS system.

Who's Affected

• Domestic manufacturers whose inputs fall under one of the covered QCOs and who are struggling to source ISI-mark-certified supply in time.
• Importers of products or inputs in the covered categories, who need to understand which route their supplier is certified under and whether it is acceptable during the transition.
• Suppliers holding Scheme-II licences, who gain a conditional path to serve Indian industry.
• Compliance and procurement teams mapping BIS obligations across product lines.

Operational Detail

The reported coverage spans ten QCOs, across categories including toys, footwear, air conditioners, furniture, hinges, water heaters, washing machines and household electrical appliances. Firms seeking to use the alternative route apply for permission, which a DPIIT-led committee assesses against the qualifying conditions. Because eligibility turns on the applicant's technical and compliance profile — and because the precise covered QCOs, conditions and forms are set out in the Order — businesses should work from the notified text rather than a summary.

Importantly, this Order does not remove the underlying QCO obligations or the mandatory certification requirement. It provides a conditional, time-bound way to meet supply needs through Scheme-II during the transition period.

What Importers and Manufacturers Should Do Now

• Check whether your product sits under one of the ten covered QCOs, and confirm the exact scope from the notified Order.
• Verify your supplier's BIS route — Scheme-I (ISI) or Scheme-II — and whether the Transition Facilitation route is available and approved for your case.
• Apply early if you intend to use the alternative route; approval is committee-based and conditional, not a rubber stamp.
• Keep documentation of BIS licences and any DPIIT permission with your import and procurement records, since QCO compliance is increasingly checked at clearance.
• Plan for the sunset: the route is transitional and time-bound, so build a path to full standard compliance rather than relying on the bridge indefinitely.
• Track extensions or amendments, as covered QCOs and conditions can change by further notification.

The Bigger Picture

The Order reflects a balancing act at the heart of India's quality-control drive: raise standards and cut low-quality imports, without starving domestic manufacturers of compliant inputs mid-transition. For traders, the practical takeaway is that "BIS-certified" is no longer a single yes/no — the scheme under which a supplier is certified, and any transitional permissions, now matter for whether goods can move. Firms that map their exposure to upcoming QCOs and understand both conformity routes will navigate the tightening far more smoothly than those that discover the requirement at the port.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this Order remove any QCO requirement? No. It provides a conditional, transitional route to source under BIS Scheme-II instead of only Scheme-I for covered products. The underlying mandatory certification obligations remain.

Which products are covered? Reported coverage includes ten QCOs spanning categories such as toys, footwear, air conditioners, furniture, hinges, water heaters, washing machines and household electrical appliances. Confirm the exact list from the notified Order.

Is the alternative route automatic? No. Permission is granted by a DPIIT-led committee based on conditions including technical capability, compliance history and commitments to domestic supply-chain strengthening.

How long does the Order last? It is a transitional measure — reported to accept applications for 24 months and to remain in force for five years unless extended by a further Gazette notification.

Conclusion

The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 is a pragmatic bridge across India's QCO rollout — keeping compliant supply available while standards tighten. Importers and manufacturers in the covered categories should identify their exposure, verify which BIS scheme their suppliers hold, and apply early if they need the alternative route, while planning for full compliance before the bridge is withdrawn.

This article is a plain-language summary for traders and does not replace professional advice. Verify covered products, conditions and timelines against the notified Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 and BIS/DPIIT guidance before acting.