BIS Cracks Down on E-Commerce Platforms

17 Mar 2025 CW Team

Key Seizures and Findings Amazon Lucknow Warehouse (7 March 2025): Seized 215 toys and 24 hand blenders—all lacking mandatory BIS certification.

Amazon Gurugram Warehouse (February 2025): Confiscated 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, 7 PVC cables, 2 food mixers, and 1 speaker, none of which were BIS-certified.

Flipkart Warehouse, Gurugram (Operated by Instakart Services Pvt Ltd): Seized 534 stainless steel vacuum-insulated bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers without certification.

Techvision International Pvt Ltd (Delhi Facilities): BIS traced non-certified products from Amazon and Flipkart back to Techvision International Pvt Ltd and raided two of its facilities in Delhi, uncovering:

7,000 electric water heaters 4,000 electric food mixers 95 electric room heaters 40 gas stoves These products, sold under brands such as Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly, were all found to be uncertified. Legal Action Under BIS Act, 2016 BIS has initiated legal proceedings against Techvision International Pvt Ltd under Sections 17(1) and 17(3) of the BIS Act, 2016. Additional cases are being prepared against other violators.

Under the Act: Defaulters face a penalty of at least Rs 2 lakh, extendable up to ten times the value of the goods sold. Severe violations could result in imprisonment for up to two years.

Strengthening Market Surveillance BIS has intensified market surveillance efforts, including:

Testing consumer goods for compliance with mandatory safety and performance standards. Targeting non-certified products sold on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket. Identifying and removing non-certified products that lack a valid ISI Mark or have an invalid CM/L license number.

Call for E-Commerce Compliance & Consumer Awareness E-Commerce Platforms: BIS has issued notices to Amazon, Flipkart, and others, directing them to ensure only BIS-certified products are sold where certification is mandatory.

Consumers: BIS urges buyers to use the BIS Care App to: Verify BIS certification of products. Check ISI Mark and CM/L number for authenticity. Report non-compliant or poor-quality products directly to BIS.

With this stringent enforcement, BIS reaffirms its commitment to consumer safety, urging platforms and buyers alike to prioritise certified, quality-assured products for a safer marketplace.

In a decisive move to curb the sale of non-compliant and unsafe products through e-commerce platforms, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has conducted search and seizure operations at multiple warehouse locations of leading online retailers, including Amazon and Flipkart. The raids, carried out in Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi, resulted in the confiscation of thousands of non-certified consumer goods. Key Seizures and Findings Amazon Lucknow Warehouse (7 March 2025): Seized 215 toys and 24 hand blenders—all lacking mandatory BIS certification. Amazon Gurugram Warehouse (February 2025): Confiscated 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, 7 PVC cables, 2 food mixers, and 1 speaker, none of which were BIS-certified. Flipkart Warehouse, Gurugram (Operated by Instakart Services Pvt Ltd): Seized 534 stainless steel vacuum-insulated bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers without certification. Techvision International Pvt Ltd (Delhi Facilities): BIS traced non-certified products from Amazon and Flipkart back to Techvision International Pvt Ltd and raided two of its facilities in Delhi, uncovering: 7,000 electric water heaters 4,000 electric food mixers 95 electric room heaters 40 gas stoves These products, sold under brands such as Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly, were all found to be uncertified. Legal Action Under BIS Act, 2016 BIS has initiated legal proceedings against Techvision International Pvt Ltd under Sections 17(1) and 17(3) of the BIS Act, 2016. Additional cases are being prepared against other violators. Under the Act: Defaulters face a penalty of at least Rs 2 lakh, extendable up to ten times the value of the goods sold. Severe violations could result in imprisonment for up to two years. Strengthening Market Surveillance BIS has intensified market surveillance efforts, including: Testing consumer goods for compliance with mandatory safety and performance standards. Targeting non-certified products sold on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket. Identifying and removing non-certified products that lack a valid ISI Mark or have an invalid CM/L license number. Call for E-Commerce Compliance & Consumer Awareness E-Commerce Platforms: BIS has issued notices to Amazon, Flipkart, and others, directing them to ensure only BIS-certified products are sold where certification is mandatory. Consumers: BIS urges buyers to use the BIS Care App to: Verify BIS certification of products. Check ISI Mark and CM/L number for authenticity. Report non-compliant or poor-quality products directly to BIS. With this stringent enforcement, BIS reaffirms its commitment to consumer safety, urging platforms and buyers alike to prioritise certified, quality-assured products for a safer marketplace.

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