India Brings Animal Feed Under Mandatory BIS Certification: The Animal Feeds and Feed Ingredients (Quality Control) Order, 2026

What changed, who it affects, what to do: On 7 October 2026, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying notified the Animal Feeds and Feed Ingredients (Quality Control) Order, 2026 (S.O. 5576(E)). It makes BIS certification and the Standard Mark mandatory for three feed products, with compulsory certification beginning 1 April 2027. The Order applies to goods made in India and to imports; goods manufactured solely for export are excluded.

What Happened

The Order was issued by the Central Government under Section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, after consulting BIS, which will be the certifying and enforcing authority. It brings three categories of animal-feed goods under mandatory conformity to Indian Standards and the Standard Mark:

• Mineral mixtures for supplementing cattle feeds — IS 1664
• Dicalcium phosphate, animal feed grade — IS 5470
• Common salt and cattle licks for animal consumption — IS 920

Once in force, covered goods must conform to the relevant Indian Standard (latest version, including amendments) and bear the Standard Mark under a BIS licence granted under Scheme-I of Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

Timeline. The Order takes effect on publication in the Official Gazette, with compulsory certification from 1 April 2027. For mineral mixtures (IS 1664), the notified dates are 1 April 2027 for general enterprises, 1 July 2027 for small enterprises and 1 October 2027 for micro enterprises — a three-month and six-month cushion respectively. The 1 April 2027 date is the headline start for the covered goods.

Why This Matters / Background

Quality Control Orders (QCOs) convert a voluntary Indian Standard into a mandatory one: after the effective date, covered goods cannot be manufactured, imported, sold, distributed or stored for sale without BIS certification and the Standard Mark. India has rolled out dozens of QCOs across sectors; this one extends that regime to core animal-feed inputs, reflecting concern over feed quality, adulteration and livestock health.

Crucially, the Order applies to imports as well as domestic production. Foreign manufacturers wishing to supply these feed goods to India will need BIS certification (typically via the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme), and importers must ensure their suppliers are certified before the compulsory date.

Who's Affected

Domestic manufacturers of mineral mixtures, feed-grade dicalcium phosphate, and common salt/cattle licks are covered, as are importers of these goods and the foreign manufacturers who supply them. The dairy, poultry and livestock feed industries are the downstream users. Exporters are expressly outside the Order — goods made purely for export are excluded — but a manufacturer selling into both the domestic and export markets will need certification for the domestic-market portion.

What Importers and Manufacturers Should Do Now

• Confirm whether your products fall under IS 1664, IS 5470 or IS 920, using the Order's Annexure and the relevant tariff lines.
• Importers: audit your overseas suppliers' BIS certification status and start the Foreign Manufacturers Certification process early, since BIS licensing can take months.
• Domestic manufacturers: apply for the BIS licence under Scheme-I well ahead of 1 April 2027 (or your enterprise-category date), and align production and testing to the latest version of the relevant IS.
• Build the Standard Mark and certification evidence into your labelling, packaging and import-clearance documentation.
• Exporters selling only abroad should document that their output is export-only to rely on the exclusion.

The Bigger Picture

Mandatory feed standards are part of a wider push to lift quality across India's agri-livestock value chain and to curb substandard or adulterated inputs that affect animal health and, ultimately, milk and meat quality. For importers, QCOs increasingly function as a technical market-access condition: without a certified supplier, the goods simply cannot clear customs after the effective date. Starting the certification process early is the single most important step, because capacity constraints at the certification stage tend to bite as deadlines approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does certification become compulsory? From 1 April 2027 for the covered goods, with 1 July 2027 (small) and 1 October 2027 (micro) for mineral mixtures under IS 1664.

Which products are covered? Mineral mixtures for cattle feed (IS 1664), feed-grade dicalcium phosphate (IS 5470), and common salt and cattle licks (IS 920).

Does it apply to imports? Yes. Imports are covered, so overseas suppliers need BIS certification and importers must verify it before the compulsory date.

Are exports affected? No. Goods manufactured solely for export are excluded from the Order.

Conclusion

The Animal Feeds and Feed Ingredients (Quality Control) Order, 2026 brings three key feed inputs under mandatory BIS certification from 1 April 2027. Importers and domestic manufacturers should classify their products now and begin BIS licensing early, because the certification — not the deadline — is the long pole in the tent. Export-only producers can rely on the Order's export exclusion but should document that status.

This is general guidance. Verify the text, product list and dates of S.O. 5576(E), the Animal Feeds and Feed Ingredients (Quality Control) Order, 2026, against the Official Gazette and the BIS portal (bis.gov.in) before acting.