BIS Certification for AUS 32 – Diesel NOx Reduction Agent IS 17042 Part 1

The Diesel Engines – NOx Reduction Agent AUS 32 (Quality Control) Order, 2024 was issued by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals) vide S.O. 922(E) on February 26, 2024. The order came into force 180 days after its publication — making BIS certification mandatory for all AUS 32 manufacturers supplying the Indian domestic market from approximately August 2024.

This QCO was issued alongside two other significant chemical product orders on the same date — the PVC Homopolymers QCO (S.O. 920(E)) and the Polypropylene Materials for Moulding and Extrusion QCO (S.O. 921(E)) — reflecting the Government of India's broadening of mandatory BIS certification across chemical and petrochemical products.

• Issued by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers under the BIS Act, 2016
• Applicable Indian Standard: IS 17042 (Part 1) — Diesel Engines NOx Reduction Agent AUS 32 Specification
• BIS is the sole certifying and enforcement authority for AUS 32 under this QCO
• Applies to AUS 32 manufactured or sold within India — not applicable to goods meant for export
• Violations attract penalties under the BIS Act, 2016 — including fines and prosecution

AUS 32 stands for Aqueous Urea Solution 32.5% — a precisely formulated liquid containing 32.5% high-purity urea dissolved in deionized water. It is also widely known as AdBlue (the ISO trade name) or Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in the United States. In India, with the implementation of BS6 emission norms, AUS 32 has become a critical operational fluid for all diesel vehicles fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems.

The SCR system uses AUS 32 to chemically convert harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) in diesel exhaust into harmless nitrogen gas and water vapour — enabling diesel engines to meet stringent BS6 emission limits. Without AUS 32, BS6 SCR-equipped vehicles cannot function within legal emission limits and may face derated performance, warning indicator activation, or regulatory non-compliance.

• AUS 32 contains exactly 32.5% urea by weight — not more, not less
• Used in trucks, buses, tractors, construction equipment, generators, and passenger vehicles with SCR systems
• Consumed continuously during vehicle operation — demand is directly proportional to diesel consumption
• Must be stored and dispensed without contamination — metal ions, minerals, or incorrect concentration damage SCR catalysts
• India's transition to BS6 emission norms has made AUS 32 one of the fastest-growing chemical product categories in the country

The ISI Mark is the BIS Standard Mark confirming that the AUS 32 product has been evaluated, tested, and found compliant with IS 17042 Part 1. Every ISI Mark on a certified AUS 32 product contains:

• IS 17042 (Part 1) — the applicable Indian Standard number displayed with the mark
• Licence Number (CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX) — the unique BIS licence identifier for the manufacturer

The ISI Mark on AUS 32 packaging is a publicly verifiable quality signal. Vehicle OEMs, fleet operators, petrol pump dispensing networks, and automotive service chains can verify the licence number on the BIS portal at www.manakonline.in — confirming that the product has been independently certified against IS 17042 Part 1 chemical quality requirements.

IS 17042 Part 1 is the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for Diesel Engines NOx Reduction Agent AUS 32. This standard is aligned with the ISO 22241-1 international specification for AUS 32 — the global benchmark for AdBlue / DEF quality — ensuring that BIS-certified AUS 32 from India meets the same quality parameters recognised by vehicle manufacturers worldwide.

The standard is technically demanding because AUS 32 is a chemically sensitive product. The slightest deviation in urea concentration, the presence of heavy metal contamination at parts-per-million levels, or the formation of urea decomposition by-products like biuret can cause irreversible damage to SCR catalysts — which cost significantly more to replace than the AUS 32 itself.

IS 17042 Part 1 sets precise limits for every chemical parameter that affects SCR system performance. These are tested at BIS-recognised chemical laboratories as part of the certification process.

• Legal Compliance: AUS 32 cannot be legally manufactured or sold in India without a valid ISI Mark licence under IS 17042 Part 1. Non-compliance attracts seizure and penalties under the BIS Act, 2016.
• Automotive Supply Chain Access: Vehicle OEMs, authorised dealer networks, and fleet management companies mandate BIS-certified AUS 32 from approved suppliers. Without certification, supply contracts are not available.
• Petrol Pump and Retail Distribution: Fuel retail chains and petrol pump dispensing networks require BIS-certified AUS 32 for dispensing point approval. Uncertified product cannot be dispensed through regulated retail networks.
• Government and Institutional Fleet Supply: Government vehicle fleets, defence, railways, and large institutional fleet operators mandate BIS-certified AUS 32 in their procurement specifications.
• BS6 Compliance Support: India's BS6 emission regime mandates SCR technology in new diesel vehicles — every BS6 SCR-equipped vehicle is a guaranteed AUS 32 consumer. BIS certification positions manufacturers to serve this entire market.
• Import Clearance: AUS 32 imported into India must carry the BIS ISI Mark. Uncertified imports are detained at customs and subject to disposal.

• Indian manufacturers producing AUS 32 at domestic manufacturing facilities
• Foreign manufacturers exporting AUS 32 to the Indian market (under FMCS scheme)
• Companies blending, packaging, and marketing AUS 32 under their own brand name
• Toll manufacturers producing AUS 32 on behalf of brand owners

The ISI Mark licence is granted to the manufacturer of AUS 32 — not to traders, distributors, or repackagers. A separate BIS licence is required for each manufacturing location. If AUS 32 is produced at multiple facilities, each facility needs its own certification.

• Operational manufacturing facility — an active AUS 32 production plant ready for BIS inspection
• High-purity water system — deionized or reverse osmosis water production capability meeting IS 17042 Part 1 water quality requirements
• Pharmaceutical or food-grade urea sourcing — urea raw material must meet the purity specifications defined for AUS 32 production
• Contamination-free production equipment — stainless steel or approved material mixing, storage, and filling systems that prevent metal contamination
• In-house testing capability — laboratory equipment for urea concentration, refractive index, and density measurement as per BIS Scheme requirements
• Quality control documentation — batch-wise production records, raw material certificates, and quality control procedures
• Factory inspection consent — acceptance of BIS audit and ongoing surveillance visits

Step 1 – Factory Assessment and Gap Analysis
Standphill India conducts a detailed pre-audit inspection of your AUS 32 manufacturing facility — assessing water purification systems, urea sourcing quality, blending and filling processes, in-house testing infrastructure, contamination controls, and documentation against IS 17042 Part 1 requirements. Every compliance gap is identified and corrected before BIS is involved.

Step 2 – Documentation Preparation
All required documents are prepared — product specifications, raw material details, manufacturing process flow, quality control procedures, laboratory equipment list, and all mandatory declarations. Standphill India verifies every document before submission to prevent portal-level rejection or BIS queries.

Step 3 – Application Filing with BIS
The complete BIS ISI Mark licence application under IS 17042 Part 1 is filed through the BIS ManakOnline portal. Application fee and 50% of minimum marking fee are paid at this stage.

Step 4 – Document Scrutiny by BIS
BIS reviews submitted application documents. Standphill India manages all queries and clarifications from BIS at this stage promptly to avoid processing delays.

Step 5 – BIS Factory Audit
A BIS nominated auditor visits your AUS 32 manufacturing facility to inspect production processes, water purification systems, urea handling, blending operations, in-house testing equipment, and quality control documentation. Standphill India provides on-ground support throughout the audit.

Step 6 – Product Sample Testing
AUS 32 samples are drawn during or after the factory audit and sent to a BIS-recognised chemical testing laboratory. All IS 17042 Part 1 parameters are tested — urea concentration, density, pH, biuret, aldehydes, heavy metals, and mineral content. Standphill India coordinates sample preparation and submission.

Step 7 – Grant of BIS Licence
On successful factory audit and satisfactory test results, BIS grants the ISI Mark licence under IS 17042 Part 1 with a unique licence number. The manufacturer can then legally mark and sell BIS-certified AUS 32 across India.

• Factory registration certificate and business registration documents
• Company incorporation certificate, GST registration, and PAN
• Identity proof of authorized signatory
• Factory layout plan showing production, storage, and laboratory areas
• Manufacturing process flow chart from water purification through blending to filling and packaging
• Raw material specifications — urea grade and supplier details, water treatment system details
• List of manufacturing equipment — mixing tanks, filling lines, storage vessels with material specifications
• In-house testing equipment list with calibration certificates — refractometer, density meter, pH meter
• Quality control parameters and batch testing procedures
• Internal batch test records and quality control logs
• Product specification sheet aligned to IS 17042 Part 1 requirements
• Nomination letter for authorized signatory
• AIR appointment documents (mandatory for foreign manufacturers under FMCS)

Standphill India prepares and verifies all documentation before BIS submission — eliminating portal rejections and BIS query delays that commonly extend certification timelines.

Total certification cost varies based on production scale, MSME status, and laboratory testing charges. Contact Standphill India for a personalised cost estimate for your AUS 32 BIS certification project.

The demand for BIS-certified AUS 32 in India is driven by the complete BS6 transition across all diesel vehicle categories. Every sector that operates diesel equipment with SCR technology requires a continuous and assured supply of quality AUS 32.

• Full Legal Market Access: BIS ISI Mark is the only legal basis for manufacturing and selling AUS 32 in India. Certification unlocks the complete domestic market.
• OEM and Dealer Network Approval: Vehicle manufacturers and their authorised dealer and service networks mandate BIS-certified AUS 32 — certification opens these large and structured supply channels.
• Petrol Pump Dispensing Approval: Fuel retail chains and petrol pump networks require BIS-certified AUS 32 for dispensing point setup — the highest-volume retail channel for AUS 32 in India.
• Fleet and Institutional Supply: Government fleet operators, logistics companies, and large fleet managers mandate certified AUS 32 — giving certified manufacturers access to predictable, high-volume supply contracts.
• Brand Credibility with Vehicle Owners: The ISI Mark provides vehicle owners and fleet managers independently verifiable assurance that the AUS 32 will not damage their SCR systems — a critical purchase decision factor.
• Protection from Enforcement Action: BIS is actively enforcing the AUS 32 QCO. Having your licence in place protects your manufacturing and distribution business from raids and seizures.
• Export Advantage: Indian manufacturers with BIS ISI Mark have a verifiable quality credential that supports positioning in export markets where AUS 32 quality standards are equally stringent.

BIS is the designated certifying and enforcement authority for AUS 32 under the QCO 2024. Enforcement activities include market surveillance, supply chain audits, and customs interception for imported AUS 32 without BIS certification.

• Customs authorities verify BIS certification for AUS 32 import shipments — uncertified imports are detained and returned
• BIS conducts market sampling and testing of AUS 32 available in the retail and distribution network
• Automotive OEM supply chain audits increasingly check BIS certification status of AUS 32 suppliers
• Penalties under the BIS Act, 2016 include seizure of non-certified product, fines, and prosecution of responsible persons

Consequences of Operating Without BIS Certification:

• Product seizure at manufacturing facility, warehouse, or distribution point
• Exclusion from automotive OEM, dealer network, and fleet supply contracts
• Loss of petrol pump dispensing approvals
• Criminal liability and financial penalties under the BIS Act, 2016

Standphill India has successfully delivered BIS ISI Mark certification under IS 17042 Part 1 for AUS 32 manufacturers across India — from Gujarat in Western India to Andhra Pradesh in South India. Every project was completed with first-attempt success at both factory audit and chemical testing stages.

Standphill India is not a documentation agency. We are a full-service BIS certification consulting firm with proven expertise in chemically sensitive product certifications — including AUS 32, concrete admixtures, pharma packaging foils, and other precision chemical standards. We visit your facility, assess your actual production process, prepare everything correctly, coordinate testing, support your audit, and follow up until your licence is in hand.

For AUS 32 specifically, our team understands the production chemistry, the precision requirements of IS 17042 Part 1 testing, what BIS auditors evaluate in an AUS 32 manufacturing facility, and the common reasons manufacturers fail their first audit attempt — which we systematically eliminate through thorough pre-audit preparation.

• Pre-audit factory gap analysis aligned specifically to IS 17042 Part 1 requirements
• Complete documentation preparation — product specifications, process flows, QC procedures
• BIS ManakOnline portal registration and application filing
• Chemical testing coordination with BIS-recognised laboratories
• On-ground factory audit support throughout the BIS inspection
• Post-audit follow-up and BIS communication management to licence grant
• Post-licence compliance advisory and surveillance audit readiness
• FMCS application support for foreign AUS 32 manufacturers supplying India