BIS conducts raids on e-commerce firms for violations in Krishna district

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Vijayawada Branch Office, carried out a major enforcement raid on prominent e-commerce platforms—Flipkart, E-Kart, and Meesho—operating from Mustabad village in Gannavaram mandal in Krishna district.

The enforcement action is part of BIS’s ongoing nationwide initiative to curb the sale and distribution of non-certified and unsafe products that violate the provisions of Quality Control Orders (QCOs). During the operation, BIS officials seized a large consignment comprising over 25 categories of consumer products—including electronics, LED bulbs, toys, and table fans—which were found to be lacking mandatory BIS certification or the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) mark, thereby violating Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016.

BIS officials stated: “Based on actionable intelligence and digital surveillance, it has been found that several e-commerce platforms are facilitating the sale and distribution of uncertified and potentially hazardous products. These items lack valid BIS certification and are being sold in contravention of mandatory QCOs and relevant provisions of the BIS Act, 2016, thereby posing serious risks to consumer health and safety.”

The investigation and resulting legal action stem from violations under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016: Prohibits the sale, storage, or exhibition of

goods without the standard mark, Section 29(3) of the BIS Act, 2016: provides for imprisonment up to three years and fines of ₹2 lakh to Rs.10 lakh, or up to 10 times the value of goods, for such contraventions.

In applicable cases, violations of Section 79(2)(c) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(b)(iv) & (v) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, for failure to observe due diligence by the e-commerce platform. There are currently over 800 products under BIS Mandatory Certification, details of which are available at:https://www.bis.gov.in/product-certification/products-under-compulsory-certification/BIS emphasises that all products under mandatory certification must bear the Standard Mark (ISI, CRS, Hallmark, or relevant management system mark)

and be sold only by licensed entities. Any manufacture, storage, or sale of such goods without BIS approval is punishable under law .BIS urges all consumers to:  Use the BIS Care App (available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store) to verify certification details. Consumers are advised to report misuse of BIS marks (ISI, CRS, Hallmark, etc.) directly via the BIS care app. Identities of whistle-blowers will be kept confidential. BIS continues its proactive enforcement and consumer outreach efforts to ensure only safe, certified, and standard-compliant goods reach the Indian marketplace, according to Prem Sajani Patnala, Director & Head, BIS.