India Brings Aluminium Cookware, Utensils and Beverage Cans Under Mandatory BIS Certification (QCO S.O. 5624(E))

India has placed aluminium cookware, utensils and food-and-beverage cans under mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification. The Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages (Quality Control) Second Order, 2026, notified by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as S.O. 5624(E), dated 13 October 2026, requires covered products to carry the BIS Standard Mark under a licence. Crucially for traders, the order applies to both imports and domestic industry — so importers of these items will need their suppliers to hold valid BIS certification. Goods made in India purely for export are exempt.

What Happened

The Quality Control Order (QCO) brings two product groups under compulsory conformity to Indian Standards:

• Wrought aluminium utensils (cookware, utensils and cans for food and beverages) must conform to IS 1660:2024, with immediate effect for all enterprise sizes.
• Aluminium beverage cans must conform to IS 14407:2023, on a phased timeline: 1 April 2027 (general), 1 July 2027 (small enterprises) and 1 October 2027 (micro enterprises).

The order is the "Second Order, 2026" and supersedes the earlier 2026 Order, except for actions already taken before supersession. It takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Key exemptions include: goods manufactured domestically for export; imported goods filled with solid, liquid or gaseous material; and up to 200 units per year imported by manufacturers for R&D (not for commercial sale, to be scrapped and recorded). Stock manufactured or imported before the implementation date may be sold for up to six months afterwards, supported by a Chartered Accountant-certified declaration filed with BIS.

Why / Background

QCOs make conformity to a specified Indian Standard mandatory, barring the manufacture, import, sale or storage of non-conforming goods. For consumer-facing items like cookware and beverage cans that come into direct contact with food and drink, the rationale is safety and quality — limiting substandard metal, coatings and construction. By covering imports, the order ensures foreign-made products meet the same bar as domestic ones, which is also why overseas manufacturers must obtain BIS certification (typically via the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme) to keep selling into India.

Who's Affected

Importers and domestic manufacturers of aluminium cookware, utensils and beverage cans are directly affected, along with their overseas suppliers, who must secure BIS licences to continue exporting to India. Distributors and retailers holding stock must respect the sell-through window. Customs house agents clearing these items will need to verify BIS certification at import. Exporters of India-made aluminium ware are exempt for export consignments but should keep documentation clean to claim that exemption.

What Importers, Manufacturers and CHAs Should Do Now

• Map your SKUs to IS 1660:2024 (utensils/cookware) and IS 14407:2023 (beverage cans) and identify which carry which compliance date.
• For wrought aluminium utensils, act now — the IS 1660 requirement is immediate for all enterprise sizes.
• For aluminium beverage cans, plan to the phased dates (1 Apr / 1 Jul / 1 Oct 2027 by enterprise size) and start supplier certification early, as BIS licensing takes time.
• Require overseas suppliers to obtain BIS certification under the applicable scheme before the relevant date; build it into purchase contracts.
• Use the six-month sell-through window for pre-implementation stock, and keep the CA-certified declaration ready for BIS.
• CHAs: add a BIS-licence check to clearance SOPs for these HS lines so non-conforming consignments are caught before assessment.

The Bigger Picture

India has rapidly expanded its QCO regime across metals, chemicals, electronics and consumer goods, steadily closing the gap between domestic and imported product quality. For importers, QCOs have become one of the most consequential non-tariff factors in sourcing decisions — a missed certification can strand a consignment at the port. The aluminium cookware-and-cans order is another step in that trend, and the phased timeline for cans gives the supply chain a runway that importers should not waste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this order apply to imports? Yes. It applies to both imports and domestic industry. Exports of India-made goods are exempt.

When do I have to comply? Wrought aluminium utensils (IS 1660:2024): immediately, for all enterprise sizes. Aluminium beverage cans (IS 14407:2023): 1 April 2027 (general), 1 July 2027 (small), 1 October 2027 (micro).

Can I sell existing stock after the date? Pre-implementation stock may be sold for up to six months after the implementation date, with a Chartered Accountant-certified declaration filed with BIS.

Do overseas manufacturers need BIS certification? Yes — to sell covered products into India, foreign manufacturers must hold a valid BIS licence (typically under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme).

Conclusion

DPIIT's QCO S.O. 5624(E) makes BIS certification mandatory for aluminium cookware, utensils and beverage cans, with immediate effect for utensils and a phased 2027 timeline for cans — and it covers imports. Importers and CHAs should map SKUs to the standards, push suppliers toward BIS certification now, and use the sell-through window for existing stock.

This summary is for general guidance. Verify the exact scope, standards, timelines and exemptions against DPIIT Order S.O. 5624(E) and the relevant BIS standards on the official BIS (bis.gov.in) and DPIIT portals before acting.