Ravi Kumar | Team TrickyScribe: In a significant move to curb the sale of non-compliant products through e-commerce platforms, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has conducted search and seizure operations at multiple warehouse locations of leading online marketplaces, including Amazon and Flipkart. The raids, carried out in cities like Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi, uncovered large quantities of products lacking mandatory BIS certification.
Major Seizures at Amazon and Flipkart Warehouses
During a raid at an Amazon warehouse in Lucknow on March 7, 2025, BIS officials seized 215 uncertified toys and 24 hand blenders. A similar operation at Amazon’s Gurugram warehouse in February 2025 led to the confiscation of 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, 7 PVC cables, 2 food mixers, and 1 speaker—all found to be non-certified.
Meanwhile, a Flipkart warehouse in Gurugram, operated by Instakart Services Pvt Ltd, was also targeted, leading to the seizure of 534 uncertified stainless steel bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers. These raids have exposed the presence of a substantial volume of non-certified products on e-commerce platforms, raising concerns about consumer safety.
Techvision International Under BIS Scanner
Further investigations linked multiple violations on Amazon and Flipkart to Techvision International Pvt Ltd, prompting BIS to raid two of its facilities in Delhi. The search uncovered approximately 7,000 uncertified electric water heaters, 4,000 electric food mixers, 95 electric room heaters, and 40 gas stoves. The seized products included well-known brands such as Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly, among others.
Legal Action Under BIS Act, 2016
Following the seizures, BIS has initiated legal proceedings against the responsible entities under the BIS Act, 2016. Two cases have already been filed against Techvision International Pvt Ltd for violations of Sections 17(1) and 17(3), with additional cases in the pipeline. The BIS Act stipulates stringent penalties, including a minimum fine of ₹2 lakh, which may extend up to ten times the value of the goods sold. Additionally, offenders may face imprisonment of up to two years, depending on the severity of the violation.
Market Surveillance to Protect Consumers
BIS is actively monitoring the market to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards, particularly for products sold on e-commerce platforms. As part of this effort, BIS regularly purchases consumer products for rigorous testing. The surveillance covers essential household items such as domestic pressure cookers, hand blenders, food mixers, electric irons, room heaters, PVC cables, gas stoves, toys, helmets, switches, sockets, and aluminium foils used for food packaging.
Given the potential risks posed by substandard products, the Central Government has made BIS certification mandatory for these goods. However, BIS has identified that several non-certified products continue to be sold on platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket. These products either lack an ISI Mark or bear an ISI Mark with an invalid license number, making them a safety hazard for consumers.
E-Commerce Platforms Urged to Ensure Compliance
The large-scale seizures underscore the urgent need for e-commerce platforms to exercise greater due diligence in ensuring that only BIS-certified products are sold where certification is mandatory. In response, BIS has issued notices to all major e-commerce platforms, directing them to verify product compliance before listing them for sale.
BIS Care App: Empowering Consumers
To help consumers make informed purchasing decisions, BIS urges the public to use the BIS Care app, which allows users to:
• Verify whether a product requires mandatory BIS certification.
• Verify the authenticity of a product’s certification by checking the ISI Mark and the manufacturer’s license number (CM/L).
• Lodge complaints about non-certified products or report quality concerns regarding BIS-certified items.
Ensuring Safer Markets Through Strict Enforcement
BIS remains committed to safeguarding consumer interests by enforcing stringent quality standards and taking legal action against defaulters. With increasing surveillance and consumer awareness initiatives, the regulatory body aims to create a safer marketplace and improve overall product quality in India.
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