BIS Certification for Steel: QCO 2024 Compliance for Manufacturers & Importers
Steel Products Now Under Mandatory BIS Certification for Steel (QCO 2024)
Attention Steel Manufacturers, Importers & OEMs! The Ministry of Steel officially notified the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control Order) QCO 2024 under the BIS Act on 30th August 2024. BIS Certification for Steel is mandatory for a wide range of products, including various steel grades, rolled products, structural steel, pipes, and fittings. Ensuring BIS Certification for Steel compliance is essential for market access, regulatory alignment, and legal conformity in India as of 2025.
What Manufacturers & Importers Must Do
- All domestic and imported steel products covered under QCO 2024 must bear the BIS Standard Mark and be accompanied by a valid test certificate from a licensed manufacturer.
- The effective date of enforcement for most products was immediate upon notification (29 August 2024). Certain items, such as ferro-chromium, ferro-manganese, and silico-manganese steels, had a six-month deferment, while specific bearing steels had a three-month deferment. These timelines continue to apply in 2025.
- Non-compliance may result in confiscation of goods, fines, and potential prosecution under the BIS Act or the Customs Act (for imported items).
Coverage Under the Steel QCO 2024
Schedule I: Primary Steel Products (145 items)
These products must carry the BIS Standard Mark (ISI) and a valid test certificate. Covered items under QCO 2024 include carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and electrical steel forms, such as:
- Rolled flat products: Hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheets, plates, and strips
- Wire rods and bars: Including deformed bars for concrete reinforcement
- Slabs, blooms, billets, and forgings
- Electrical steels: Grain-oriented and non-oriented sheets/strips (IS 3024, 648, 16585, etc.)
- Special steels: Heat-treated bearing steels, weather-resistant structural steels, high-strength flat-rolled steels
- Steels for industrial use: Springs, chains, valves, rivets, fasteners, cold-heading
- Consumer and industrial components: Steel for utensils, welded chains, pressure vessel components, and more
Schedule II: Manufactured/Composite Steel Items (7 items)
These items made from steel or tinplate must conform to specified Indian Standards and be certified:
| Product Category | Applicable Standard(s) |
| Transformer cores, stampings, laminations | Electrical steel per IS 3024:2015, IS 648:2006, IS 16585:2016 |
| Stainless steel pipes & tubes | Relevant BIS standards for stainless grades |
| Containers (tanks, casks, drums, cans – 50–300 L) | Per relevant BIS specifications |
| Containers under 50 L sealed by solder/crimp | Tinplate or tin-free steel standard |
| Seals, caps, lids, threaded bungs (tinplate/tin-free steel) | BIS compliance required |
| Sign-plates, name-plates, address-plates (tinplate steel) | BIS-standard metal sheets |
| Primary cells & battery parts | BIS-specified steel/tinplate parts |
Recommended Next Steps for BIS Certification for Steel (2025)
- Identify Applicable Products: Determine which Schedule I or Schedule II items under QCO 2024 apply to your manufacturing or import lineup.
- Verify Relevant Standards: Cross-check the current Indian Standards (IS) listed in the QCO 2024 gazette, including latest amendments effective in 2025.
- Initiate BIS Licensing: Apply for BIS Certification for Steel under Scheme-I or the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for covered products.
- Prepare Labels and Certificates: Ensure all products bear the BIS Standard Mark with valid test certificates before shipping or selling in India.
- Maintain Compliance Records: Keep detailed records of certifications, test reports, and documentation for audits and future verification.
Avoid production delays and customs clearance issues initiate your BIS Certification for Steel process for 2025 today!
