In a determined effort to protect consumers from unsafe products, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has launched a major crackdown on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart for selling non-certified products that fail to meet safety and quality standards. The recent search and seizure operations carried out by BIS at multiple warehouses in Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi have brought to light the alarming scale of non-compliance with mandatory BIS certification.
In a raid conducted on March 7, 2025, at an Amazon warehouse in Lucknow, BIS officials seized 215 toys and 24 hand blenders that lacked the mandatory BIS certification. A similar operation in February at Amazon’s Gurugram warehouse resulted in the seizure of 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, seven PVC cables, two food mixers, and one speaker, all found to be uncertified. Likewise, during a raid at Flipkart’s Gurugram warehouse operated by Instakart Services Pvt Ltd, BIS confiscated 534 stainless steel bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers that failed to comply with BIS regulations.
The investigation led BIS to Techvision International Pvt Ltd, a supplier responsible for distributing a significant portion of these uncertified products. Raids conducted at two facilities of Techvision International in Delhi revealed a massive stockpile of approximately 7,000 electric water heaters, 4,000 electric food mixers, 95 electric room heaters, and 40 gas stoves, all lacking the mandatory BIS certification. Products from well-known brands such as Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly were among those seized.
In response to these violations, BIS has initiated legal proceedings against Techvision International Pvt Ltd under the BIS Act, 2016, which mandates penalties ranging from ₹2 lakh to ten times the value of the goods sold. Depending on the severity of the violation, offenders could also face imprisonment for up to two years. Additional cases against other violators are currently being prepared.
The BIS Act, 2016 empowers the organization to conduct market surveillance and ensure that products sold to consumers, both in physical stores and on e-commerce platforms, adhere to mandatory safety and quality standards. BIS regularly tests commonly used products such as pressure cookers, electric irons, gas stoves, toys, and food packaging materials like aluminium foils to verify compliance with prescribed standards. However, the recent seizures have revealed that several non-certified products, either lacking the ISI Mark or displaying fake certification numbers, are being sold on popular platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and Big basket.
The sale of such substandard products poses a serious threat to consumer safety, as these items have not undergone the necessary third-party testing to ensure they meet minimum safety and performance standards. In light of these findings, BIS has issued notices to all major e-commerce platforms, directing them to ensure that only BIS-certified products are listed for sale, as mandated by the Central Government.
BIS is also encouraging consumers to play an active role in ensuring product safety. Through the BIS Care app, consumers can verify the authenticity of BIS certification by checking the ISI Mark and the manufacturer’s license number. The app also allows users to lodge complaints against products that do not bear the ISI Mark or raise concerns about the quality of certified products.
The crackdown by BIS highlights the urgent need for stricter regulation and compliance in the e-commerce sector to protect consumers from unsafe and substandard products. As BIS continues its efforts to enforce quality standards, consumers are urged to stay vigilant and make informed choices to ensure their safety and well-being.
