The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has recently intensified its oversight of major e-commerce platforms, notably Amazon and Flipkart, to ensure compliance with mandatory certification norms. This initiative aims to safeguard consumers from the risks associated with non-certified products.
indiatoday.in+3tribuneindia.com+3uniindia.com+3tribuneindia.com+3livemint.com+3indiatoday.in+3 ="246" data-start="217">Recent Raids and FindingsOn 7th March 2025, BIS conducted a raid at an Amazon warehouse in Lucknow, seizing 215 toys and 24 hand blenders lacking the requisite BIS certification. Earlier, in February 2025, a similar operation at Amazon's Gurugram facility resulted in the confiscation of 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, seven PVC cables, two food mixers, and one speaker—all without proper certification. uniindia.com+3livemint.com+3indiatoday.in+3
Similarly, a raid at a Flipkart warehouse in Gurugram led to the seizure of 534 stainless steel vacuum-insulated bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers that did not meet mandatory standards. reuters.com+5livemint.com+5tribuneindia.com+5
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BIS's investigations traced multiple violations back to Techvision International Pvt Ltd. Subsequent raids at two of their facilities in Delhi uncovered approximately 7,000 electric water heaters, 4,000 electric food mixers, 95 electric room heaters, and 40 gas stoves without BIS certification. The seized products included brands like Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly. livemint.com+3indiatoday.in+3tribuneindia.com+3indiatoday.in+2uniindia.com+2tribuneindia.com+2
Legal Actions and Penalties
Following these seizures, BIS initiated legal proceedings under the BIS Act, 2016. Violations can result in penalties ranging from a minimum of ₹2 lakh to ten times the value of the goods sold or offered for sale. Offenders may also face imprisonment of up to two years, depending on the severity of the violation. reuters.com+5indiatoday.in+5tribuneindia.com+5tribuneindia.com+1indiatoday.in+1
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BIS has urged consumers to make informed purchasing decisions by utilising the BIS Care app. This application provides information on products requiring mandatory BIS certification and allows users to verify the authenticity of a product's certification. Consumers can also lodge complaints about products lacking the ISI Mark or report quality concerns regarding BIS-certified products through the app. livemint.com+3tribuneindia.com+3uniindia.com+3livemint.com+3uniindia.com+3tribuneindia.com+3
Conclusion
The recent BIS raids on Amazon and Flipkart warehouses highlight the critical importance of compliance with certification standards in India's e-commerce sector. These actions serve as a reminder for e-commerce platforms to exercise greater due diligence in ensuring that products sold on their platforms meet mandatory safety and quality standards, thereby safeguarding consumer interests.
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