Introduction
In today’s rapidly growing Indian manufacturing and consumer goods ecosystem, compliance with national safety and quality standards is more essential than ever. The recently introduced BIS QCO for Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages, 2024 mandates that manufacturers, importers and distributors of cookware, utensils and beverage/food-contact cans adhere to specified Indian Standards and carry the Standard Mark under license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
This blog is a comprehensive summary of the QCO 2024, including its core BIS marking requirements for cookware. For companies engaged in production, import or supply of stainless-steel utensils, aluminium utensils, food packaging cans or related items, partnering with a compliance and certification consultant such as UMSPCS can provide critical assistance.
UMSPCS offers tailored support—from identifying applicable IS standards, conducting gap-analysis, managing lab testing, coordinating BIS licensing, to assisting with marking and documentation.
With deadlines ahead, early engagement with UMSPCS ensures you stay ahead of regulatory risk and focus on your business growth. We will guide you on the details for BIS certification for cookware manufacturers in Delhi.
Hence, allow your Cookware certification knowledge to grow in adherence with quality standards. Finally, let’s explore all about the new BIS standards for metal cans and utensils.
Legal Framework and History (QCO – India)
- The Ministry of Commerce & Industry issued the QCO after consulting with the BIS, in accordance with the legal framework of section 16 of the BIS Act. It was notified in March/April 2024 and establishes a roadmap for the mandatory certification of cookware, utensils, and cans in the Indian market, as per industry news.
- On October 15, 2024, the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a press release that emphasized the importance of extended timelines and critical relaxations for micro and small enterprises.
- SGS has stated that the QCO will be effective for large/medium enterprises on September 1, 2024, and for small/micro firms on later dates.
Contact UMSPCS for an excellent Delhi BIS consultant and keep getting BIS QCO update.
Important Parts of QCO 2024
The initial QCO for Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages, 2024, which was made public in March 2024, set the basic standards for the product categories in question.
The Standard Mark Must Be Used
The most important part is that everyone must utilize the Standard Mark (ISI Mark). According to the Order, the goods or items listed in the Table must meet the applicable Indian Standard and have the Standard Mark on them.
This can only be done under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This is to imply that within India, it is illegal to produce, stock for sale, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import the specified cans without a valid BIS license and the ISI Mark.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, Schedule-II, Scheme-I, provide the certificate.
Table of Covered Products – Businesses in India
The QCO covers goods or articles classified as cookware, utensils and cans for foods and beverages. Specifically, industry sources list the following standards and product categories under its scope:
Important notes:
- These goods must bear the Standard Mark (ISI Mark) under a valid BIS license prior to manufacture, import or sale for the Indian domestic market.
- Exports of goods manufactured exclusively for overseas markets are exempt from certain marking requirements.
- The QCO does not apply to goods already under separate QCOs or other mandatory certification orders unless specified.
- The government is effectively putting up a crucial barrier against low-quality items by making BIS Certification for Cans for Foods and Beverages in India This ensures cans certification and that the containers used are safe for people to touch
Compliance Deadlines & Dates – India
- In the case of medium and large businesses, the beginning date was 1st September 2024.
- It was later extended up to 1 April 2025 for general businesses and 1 July 2025 for small enterprises. Micro enterprises had till 1 October 2025.
Regulatory Requirements to be Followed in Delhi, India
Manufacturers, importers or distributers of covered products in Delhi NCR, Noida and all over India must comply with the following major obligations:
- Standards conformity: The Indian standard must be met precisely. This includes various things such as material composition, manufacturing process, finishing, performance, and testing as well.
- BIS Licensing and Standard Mark: Under Scheme I (Schedule II) of BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, a license is required to affix the Standard Mark (ISI Mark) on products and packaging destined for the Indian market.
- Domestic market application: The QCO applies to goods intended for domestic sale; goods made only for export may be exempt, subject to conditions declared to BIS.
- Marking and labelling: Once certified, products must carry the Standard Mark and the license number on the product, packaging or label, as per BIS marking guidelines.
- Surveillance and enforcement: BIS or authorized enforcement agencies may conduct market surveillance, factory audits, testing of samples. Non-compliance may lead to penalties under the BIS Act, including suspension of license, product ban or seizure.
- Legacy stocks and small-enterprise relief: The QCO provides transitional relief for legacy stocks, micro-enterprises and R&D imports in limited quantity.
Impact of QCO all Over India
- Manufacturers: Must review existing product lines, ensure testing to new/updated standards, apply for BIS licensing For those producing stainless-steel cookware, aluminium utensils or food-contact cans, this is now mandatory.
- Importers: Need to verify that suppliers hold BIS license and Standard Mark for covered items intended for Indian market. Non-compliant goods may be detained or banned at customs or in market surveillance.
- Downstream buyers & retailers: Will increasingly demand documented compliance (BIS license number, Standard Mark) from suppliers to mitigate regulatory risk and protect brand reputation.
- Small & micro-enterprises: Although phased deadlines apply, planning is essential: testing infrastructure, certification costs, supply-chain adjustments all require time and investment.
- Quality assurance & consumer safety: The QCO is aimed at raising baseline safety, durability and food-contact suitability of cookware, utensils and cans in India—thus enhancing consumer confidence and reducing sub-standard products.
Industry commentary from SGS notes that the regulation “mandates the use of national standards and the Standard Mark for cookware, utensils and food/beverage cans … effective 1 September 2024”.
Map of QCO Compliance in India
Here is a high-level roadmap for businesses to structure their compliance process:
- Product mapping & inventory review: You need to recognize every model that exists of stainless steel utensils, aluminum utensils, and the cans that are used for foods or beverages. Next, find out which ones fit under the standards in the table above.
- Standard acquisition & gap analysis: Obtain copies of relevant Indian Standards (IS 14756, IS 1660, IS 9396, IS 14407). Compare current production/test data against standard requirements; create a gap list.
- Testing & laboratory partnerships: Engage a BIS-recognised or NABL-accredited lab to test your products according to the standard specifications (material composition, corrosion resistance, dimension, finish etc).
- BIS license application: Prepare application per Scheme I – including factory details, quality control system, test reports, product samples and documentation. Submit to BIS and await approval. Issuance of the license to use the ISI Mark upon successful Cookware Compliance.
- Marking & packaging design: Once license granted, redesign labels/packaging to incorporate Standard Mark, license number, model identification and other BIS marking requirements.
- Supply-chain communication: Inform importers, suppliers and buyers about the QCO and ensure that any items intended for Indian market bear the Standard Mark and valid license; restrict imports of non-compliant goods.
- Surveillance readiness: Maintain complete records – license copy, test reports, batch/lot data, complaint log, corrective action history. Be prepared for audits or market checks.
- Monitor updates & deadlines: Stay alert to amendments, further deferrals or relaxed requirements (for example small-enterprise relief, legacy stock clearance, R&D exemptions).
- Budget & time management: Budget for testing, certification fees, possible process upgrades, packaging redesign and scheduling to meet the deadlines (especially for general enterprises by Sept/Oct 2024/2025).
- Risk mitigation: If you’re import-oriented, ensure your overseas supplier is aware of Indian QCO obligations; stock non-compliant goods only with full awareness of risk of refusal or recall.
Therefore, this is how the BIS testing and certification procedure goes along with the BIS approval process.
Common Questions (FAQs)
For large/medium enterprises the initial effective date began around 1 September 2024. Smaller enterprises were given extra time: the DPIIT press release extended implementation to 1 April 2025 for general, 1 July 2025 for small, and 1 October 2025 for micro enterprises.
You should look to get QCO consultancy services India if you want to take the right steps forward. UMSPCS can help you get BIS registration for utensil exporters Delhi NCR.
Yes. Goods or articles manufactured exclusively for export are generally exempt from carrying the Standard Mark under the QCO. However, proper documentation and separate production lines may be required.
Typically, the QCO provides allowance for legacy stocks manufactured or imported before the effective date (often up to six months) provided certified declaration is submitted. Contact USMPCS for BIS certification Delhi and we can also help you to get a Utensil BIS license.
The standard referenced is generally “latest version including amendments as notified by BIS” for each product category. For example, IS 14756:2022 as per BIS listing.
Non-compliant goods may be refused at customs/import, seized in market, licenses revoked by BIS, fines imposed under BIS Act, and business reputational risk increases.
Yes—the QCO allows later effective dates for smaller firms (small and micro). However, planning still necessary as testing and licensing require time.
Conclusion
The “BIS QCO for Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods & Beverages, 2024” signals a strategic shift in India’s regulatory landscape—bringing essential household and food-contact consumer goods under mandatory certification and Standard Mark regimes. Compliance is no longer optional, but an imperative for manufacturers, importers and traders operating in this category.
Working with a seasoned compliance partner such as UMSPCS allows businesses to streamline the certification journey, align operations efficiently, and focus on market growth rather than regulatory risk. Packaging Compliance India can help in this. USMPCS is your one stop shop.
If you are manufacturing, importing or distributing cookware, utensils or food-contact cans and have not yet started your compliance journey, now is the time — start by mapping your portfolio, engaging labs, and initiating your BIS license application to meet the deadlines ahead.
Contact USMPCS today; we are the very best BIS certification consultant in Delhi and have excellent BIS certification services in Delhi.
