BIS Corrigendum 2026: Certificate of Conformity validity changed to "up to five years"

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued a significant BIS Corrigendum to the Conformity Assessment Amendment Regulation on 28th April 2026. The corrigendum has made an impactful change on how the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) validity is defined, replacing the fixed term “Five Years” with the flexible phrase “Up to Five Years.”

As a result of this change, manufacturers, importers and all those with existing certificates are now directly affected in terms of their renewal planning, supply chain timelines and long-term compliance strategy. Therefore, if you hold a BIS licence or are applying for one, it will be important to know the potential difference in duration of your Certificate of Conformity due to the update of the BIS Conformity Assessment Amendment Regulations 2026.

Official Details of the BIS Corrigendum Notification

The BIS Conformity Assessment Amendment Regulations 2026 were originally notified on 25th February 2026. BIS has made a major change by releasing BIS Corrigendum 2026.  Instead of having the strict timeline for certificates and licenses (originally set at 5 years), BIS will consider the risk associated with a product and issue Certificates/Licenses for up to 5 years. 

Other Schemes impacted by these regulations are as follows:

• Scheme IV: Certificate of Conformity Issued for General Goods & Products.
• Scheme VII: Certificate of Conformity (often used for specific batch or consignment conformity).
• Scheme IX: License to Utilise Standard Mark. 

What Does “Up to Five Years” Mean in BIS Corrigendum 2026?

The clarification issued with the BIS Corrigendum dated 28 April 2026 had a significant impact on how the length of time a Certificate of Conformity under Scheme-IV of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations 2018 would be regarded. Prior to issuance of the BIS Corrigendum, the regulations stated that the Certificate of Conformity would be “granted initially for a maximum period of five years”. After publication of the BIS Corrigendum, the wording was changed to “granted initially for a maximum period up to five years”.

To put it differently, there is no longer a specific period associated with the issuance of a Certificate of Conformity; therefore, depending on the circumstances of the case, the Certificate may be issued for up to 5 years.

Difference Between “For Five Years” and “Up to Five Years”

Under the recent order, the BIS has mentioned that “The certificate of conformity shall be granted initially for five years.” shall be read as “The certificate of conformity shall be granted initially up to five years." Let’s understand its key differences: 

Impact of This BIS Update on Manufacturers and Importers

All manufacturers and importers involved with India's certification system will feel the impact of the BIS corrigendum published in 2026. Here are a few ways these changes will be seen:

The validity period for your Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is less than 5 years, making it difficult to predict when it will be renewed.
With shorter validities, there will be more frequent renewals, which means more testing and filing fees.
Companies should base inventory levels and material ordering on the actual validity period of their CoCs rather than on an assumed five-year validity.

If your company's CoCs expire before their renewal date, it could result in port holds on the goods, an inability to sell them, or an inadvertent violation of the ISI mark.

When assessing how long your CoC will remain valid, the BIS may consider your historical compliance record.
All retailer and distribution contracts based on an assumed validity period of five years will need to be reviewed and amended.
By working with a BIS consultant before applying for a CoC, you can learn about how long your CoC is likely to remain valid, thus avoiding the compliance gaps that could arise without assistance.

Conclusion

According to the BIS Corrigendum dated 28 April 2026, there is an important clarification regarding the maximum timeframe allowed for the Certificate of Conformity under Scheme-IV of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The addition of "up to five years" instead of "for five years" provides further flexibility about how long the certificate can remain valid.

This amendment does not create a new rule but merely clarifies previously used language. BIS can now issue certifications based on various factors, including product classification, compliance history, the level of ongoing supervisory oversight, and the results of factory/plant inspections. For the latest regulatory updates, explore our BIS articles and BIS QCO amendments.