The Bureau of Indian Standards has amended the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 to streamline provisions relating to grant, renewal, continuity, suspension and cancellation of licences and Certificates of Conformity. The amendments primarily revise annual fee payment mechanisms, introduce structured suspension for non-payment, and restructure Scheme-II under Schedule-II. These changes apply to licence holders and certificate holders operating under the Conformity Assessment framework.

1. Advance Annual Fee Payment Introduced

• Annual fee must be paid in advance at the time of grant of licence and for continued operation of a valid licence.
• Licensee must pay annual dues along with production details within prescribed timelines.
• Similar advance annual payment requirement introduced for Certificates of Conformity.

2. Continuity and Renewal Provisions Strengthened (Regulations 8 & 16)

• Renewal application must be filed before expiry of validity as specified in the applicable scheme.
• Annual fee for renewal must be paid in advance on annual basis.
• If annual fee (with production details) is not received by the due date:
  • Licence/Certificate shall be automatically suspended from the due date for 90 days (or as specified in the scheme).
  • Suspension may be revoked if dues are paid within 90 days along with ₹5,000 delay fee.
  • If unpaid beyond suspension period, licence/certificate shall be cancelled.
• Suspension will not be revoked if other non-conformities exist until such non-compliances are rectified.

3. Suspension and Cancellation Notice Requirements Modified

• 21 days’ notice mandatory before suspension or cancellation,
  except in cases of suspension or cancellation due to non-payment of annual fee, where Regulation 8 / 16 framework applies.

4. Amendments Relating to Certificate of Conformity

• Advance annual fee payment required at grant and for continued validity.
• Annual dues must be paid with production details within prescribed timelines.
• Suspension and cancellation provisions aligned with licence framework.

5. Schedule-II – Structural Amendments

• Introductory clarification inserted categorising conformity assessment schemes into:
  • Seven product schemes
  • Three system/service/process schemes
  • Classification based on whether on-site evaluation is involved.

6. Substitution of Scheme-II (Self-Declaration Based Registration – SDOC)

Scheme-II has been substituted in entirety and now provides:

• Registration-based licence through Self-Declaration of Conformity (Scheme Type C).
• Initial licence validity: 5 years.
• Renewal validity: Further 5 years.
• Advance annual resource fee: ₹25,000 per application.
• Application fee, annual licence fee and renewal fee: ₹1,000.
• Additional test report fee: ₹20,000 per additional report.
• Detailed marking, labelling, surveillance, complaint handling, suspension and cancellation provisions inserted.

Service request fee (post grant changes): ₹5,000 per request.

7. MSME and Start-up Fee Concessions

From date of publication till May 31, 2029:

• 80% concession – Micro Enterprises and Start-ups
• 50% concession – Small Enterprises
• 20% concession – Medium Enterprises

From June 1, 2029 onwards:

• 20% concession – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Definitions aligned with MSMED Act, 2006 and Income-tax Act, 1961 (for Start-ups).