BIS QCO for Bearings: Complete 2025 Compliance Guide

QCO stands for Quality Control Order. It is a legal order issued by the Government of India - in this case, by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, DPIIT) - under the powers of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.

Once a QCO comes into force, the products covered under it must compulsorily conform to the relevant Indian Standards (IS) and must carry the BIS Standard Mark (the ISI mark) under a valid licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

The Bearings (Quality Control) Order, 2025 makes BIS certification mandatory for 12 categories of bearings. The certification has to be obtained under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 - which is the well-known ISI Mark Scheme.

The government has given a staggered timeline, depending on the size of your enterprise. This is a thoughtful move, because smaller businesses naturally need more time to prepare.

For large and medium manufacturers (general category): 6 months from the date of publication of the order in the Official Gazette.

For small enterprises (as defined under the MSME Development Act, 2006): 9 months from the date of publication.

For micro enterprises: 12 months from the date of publication.

Now here's the practical reality that most businesses underestimate - the BIS certification process itself takes time. Application preparation, documentation, factory inspection, sample testing at BIS-approved labs, and licence grant can easily take 3 to 6 months, and for foreign manufacturers (FMCS route), it can take even longer.

So if you're thinking "deadline abhi door hai, baad mein dekh lenge" - that's exactly the mindset that gets businesses stuck with blocked shipments, halted production, and lost orders. The smartest manufacturers start the process the day the QCO is notified, not the day the deadline arrives.

Are There Any Exemptions?

Yes, the order provides three specific relaxations:

First - R&D imports. Manufacturers of bearings can import up to 200 units of bearings per year for research and development purposes, without BIS certification. But there are strict conditions: these imported bearings cannot be sold commercially, they must be disposed of as scrap after use, and the manufacturer must maintain year-wise records and furnish them to the Central Government.

Second - export-only manufacturing. If you are manufacturing bearings in India purely for export, the QCO does not apply to those goods. The moment the same product enters the domestic market, however, compliance becomes mandatory.

Third - the staggered MSME timeline we discussed above, which itself acts as a relief measure for small and micro enterprises.

Beyond these, there are no escape routes. Every commercial bearing sold in India under these 12 categories must carry the ISI mark.

This is where it gets serious. The Bureau of Indian Standards is the certifying and enforcement authority under this order, and non-compliance is a punishable offence under the BIS Act, 2016.

1. ) Heavy penalties and fines - which can extend up to several lakhs of rupees, and in some cases be linked to the value of goods sold.
2. ) Imprisonment - yes, the BIS Act provides for imprisonment of up to two years for violations.
3. ) Seizure of stock - non-compliant bearings can be seized from your factory, warehouse, or even from your dealers' shelves.
4. ) Customs blockage - for importers, consignments without valid BIS certification will simply be stopped at the port. Demurrage charges, shipment returns, and cancelled orders follow.
5. ) Loss of business reputation - once your buyers (especially OEMs and large industrial customers) know you're non-compliant, winning back their trust is extremely difficult.

In short: the cost of compliance is always far lower than the cost of non-compliance.

Bearings are certified under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 - a scheme that combines factory audit with sample testing:

1. ) Identify IS Standard - Match your bearing type to the correct IS number

2. ) Application on Manakonline - File with product, factory, and company details

3. ) BIS Factory Audit - BIS verifies machinery, instruments, and QC systems

4. ) Sample Testing - Bearings tested at a BIS-recognized NABL lab

5. ) ISI Licence Granted - BIS issues CM/L number - valid 5 years (2026 amendment)

For foreign manufacturers, there's an additional requirement of appointing an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR), and the timelines and fees are higher. This is precisely why most overseas bearing companies work with an experienced Indian consultant.

also read :- 

1. ) BIS Certification for domestic Manufacturers

2. ) BIS Certification for Foreign Manufacturers

We get it - at first glance, a new compulsory certification feels like a burden. More paperwork, more cost, more audits. But step back and look at the bigger picture:

Cheap substandard imports get filtered out of the market. For years, genuine Indian manufacturers have lost business to low-quality, low-price imports. That door is now closing.

The ISI mark becomes your sales weapon. OEMs, government buyers, railways, and large industries actively prefer (and often demand) BIS-certified components. Certification opens doors that were previously shut.

Quality discipline improves your own operations. Companies that go through BIS certification consistently report fewer rejections, better process control, and stronger customer confidence.

Early movers win. The manufacturers who get certified first will capture the orders of those who delay. When the deadline hits, certified suppliers will be in massive demand - and short supply.

Standphill India - Your Trusted Partner for BIS Certification for Bearings.

Contact us now for your free BIS QCO consultation.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the Bearings (Quality Control) Order, 2025 as notified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Implementation dates are calculated from the date of publication of the order in the Official Gazette. Readers are advised to refer to the official Gazette notification and BIS guidelines for exact dates and requirements, as amendments may be issued from time to time.