Complete Guide to BIS Certification for Refined Zinc Under IS 209

ISI (BIS) Certification has become mandatory across many industries in India for product reliability and safety. One of the products is Refined Zinc, which is used across many industry sectors for alloying, galvanization, die casting, etc.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has created the Indian Standard IS 209 to protect the consumer and strengthen their rights to purchase high-quality products. Refined zinc must bear the ISI mark, providing many advantages when businesses sell ingots.

This blog will discuss the specifics of the ISI Mark of refined zinc according to IS 209, including its purpose, requirements, and the BIS certification process. Let us dig deeper and learn more.

What is IS 209 Refined Zinc Specification?

An Indian standard, IS 209, covers the specifications for primary and secondary refined zinc ingots. Some of the highlights of IS 209 include the following:

• IS 209 encompasses refined zinc ingots and identifies five grades of zinc from Zn99.995 to Zn98.65.
• The five grades are utilised for a variety of end-use industrial processes, such as die casting, alloying, and galvanization, and are distinguished by the minimum percentage of zinc concentration.
• The standard identifies the chemical composition of each grade of zinc and indicates tolerable impurities of lead (Pb), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and tin (Sn).
• Zinc ingots are made by casting liquid, refined zinc either continuously or non-continuously. Although ingots are the normative shape, if a purchaser and manufacturer agree to the shape of slabs, tiles, or plates, which will also be an allowable option.

What is the Scope for Refined Zinc: IS 209

The standard specifies the requirement for virgin zinc in ingot form. It does not include the requirements for secondary zinc or zinc for galvanizing, because the requirements for these are included in IS 4699 "Refined Secondary Zinc (First Revision)", and IS 13229 "Zinc for Galvanizing" respectively.

The Refined Zinc (Quality Control) Order, 2025 specifies that refined zinc (excluding exports) has to conform to the Indian Standard IS 209. In other words, refined zinc that is intended to be sold or distributed in India (again, except for export) must conform to the specifications in IS 209:2024 and be marked with a Standard Mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

According to a recent update, this order, known as the Refined Zinc (Quality Control) Order, will take effect six months after it is announced. The BIS Certification for Foreign Manufacturers and Indian Manufacturers both have to go through the recent update. However, it doesn't apply to goods sold outside India.

Goods or articles must be marked with a Standard Mark under license from the Bureau of Indian Standards under Scheme-1 of Schedule-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment). The Bureau of Indian Standards and Regulations, 2018, will serve as the certifying and enforcing bodies for products or commodities.

Importance of BIS Certification for Refined Zinc

BIS certification is a quality assurance mark that confirms that the refined zinc product complies with the requirements laid out in IS 209:2024. The advantages of acquiring a BIS licence are:

• It allows companies to enter the stringent Indian market smoothly.
• The companies earn a sales and growth increment over time as products that comply are in greater demand in the market.
• It allows a company to be compliant as per BIS/ISI certification for these products and adds to the consumers' confidence. 
• Refined zinc ingots as per IS 209:2024 and other BIS/ISI-certified items are more popular than non-BIS/ISI-certified ones.
• BIS-certified products can be marketed and sold throughout India, allowing quicker and surer market entry.
• The BIS mark gives consumers confidence about the product's quality and reliability.   
• Manufacturers and Importers must comply with the Quality Control Order (QCO) on refined zinc, sharpening their conformance to the national regime.

Key Specifications of IS 209

The standard includes specifications for refined zinc in the form of ingots. The standard covers zinc metal grades that are accepted in trade both domestically and abroad.
The standard specifies five grades of refined zinc ingot, as follows:
a) Zn99.995;
b) Zn99.99;
c) Zn99.95;
d) Zn99.5;
e) Zn98.65;

• Zinc ingots shall be formed from liquid refined zinc and shall be cast in the following manner: either continuously or continuously. 
• The ingot's "Shape" and "Size" must match the terms agreed upon by the supplier and the buyer.
• The ingots' surface must be comparatively free of surface corrosion and extraneous objects that might stick to it.
• The chemical composition of the ingots shall be as per the limits in the Indian standard 

• All ingots or bundles of ingots shall include a marking or label stating the following minimum information, unless otherwise agreed upon by the producer and user:

1. The cast/lot number; 
2. The material's grade, 
3. Indication of the source of manufacture, that is, the name or trademark of the manufacturer; and 
4. The mass of an individual ingot or bundle.

• Sweating' re-melting' secondary zinc-bearing materials does not meet the standards for re-melted secondary zinc.

Key Quality Assurance Requirements Under IS 209

Go through the testing requirements that a manufacturer needs for certification of the product:

• Both applicants and licensees are required to have a manufacturing-level quality assurance plan that includes a timetable for regular testing and in-process control.

• The manufacturers shall ensure inspection and testing as per the Quality Assurance Plan provided by them for the whole factory production covered by this plan.

• The manufacturer can follow the planned quality plan according to the levels of control as defined in the relevant Indian Standard.

• MSME manufacturers may use the cluster-based facilities as per the guidelines for the utilization of cluster-based test facilities by MSMEs.

• They can also get the provisions of sharing of testing facilities or getting testing done from one of the BIS BIS-recognised/empaneled laboratory or any other Laboratory having valid NABL accreditation as per IS/ISO/IEC 17025.

• Large-scale manufacturers are expected to have or maintain an in-house laboratory with at least test facilities for routine tests.

• The manufacturers should preserve the test records for the tests conducted to prove conformance, whether they use shared test facilities, cluster-based facilities, or an internal laboratory.

• The Standard Mark, as stated in the Schedule of the licence, shall be marked legibly and permanently on each ingot, slab, tile, or plate, or a label affixed to each ingot, slab, tile, or plate.

• It can also be on the test certificate accompanying each consignment of ingot, slab, tile, or plate as long as the material so marked conforms to each of the requirements of the specification.

• All production conforming to the Indian Standard and the scope of this licence will be marked with the Standard Mark. Any disposal of the nonconforming product will be done in a manner that will not constitute a breach of the provisions of the BIS Act, 2016.

How Manufacturers Can Get a BIS Certificate for Refined Zinc Ingots?

There are a few easy steps involved in the certification of refined zinc as per IS 209:2024
 In the Indian Market:

• The application must be submitted online through the official BIS portal with all specifications.
• It is preferable for the required documents to be collated and updated with the application form. This makes the whole process easier and less problematic. 
• Once the documents have been submitted, the BIS officials will visit the factory and observe the standardization procedures and manufacturing processes the businesses are following.
• Next, the product samples will be tested and thoroughly verified in the BIS-accredited laboratories, and the test reports will have to be submitted.
• The required fees will need to be paid on the BIS portal.
• When the product samples have been successfully verified, the documents and various other requirements confirmed, the BIS will issue the BIS/ISI certification for refined zinc as per IS 209.

What are the BIS Certification Refined Zinc Requirements?

Have a look at the required documents for BIS product certification of Refined zinc:

• Application form
• Factory organisational maps and charts
• Standard operation documents and information materials related to production processes
• Information on quality and safety measures being undertaken by the companies; 
• Test reports of sample products received from BIS-accredited laboratories 
• Product specifications, materials, including raw materials, machines, and equipment used during production
• Documents/Proof of address and company-related information (Registration & manufacturing unit) 
• Basic identity details for verifying the authenticity of the applicants

What is the Refined zinc ingot BIS Certification?

BIS certification for refined zinc ingots as per IS 209:2024 is required under Indian Standard IS 209. It helps ensure these ingots are produced to acceptable quality standards concerning chemical composition and physical properties.

What is zinc refining used for? 

Zinc refining is used to purify zinc metal. The refining process is done to get a high level of purity (greater than 99.995%) for various open system uses such as metal dust, battery metal, die casting, and other products that require pure zinc metal. Refined Zinc is used in various industries, this is the reason why BIS Certification of Refined Zinc is compulsory. 

How can refined zinc ingots benefit from BIS certification?

There are numerous advantages to having refined zinc ingots certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The benefits of ISI Mark are primarily in areas of safety for the end user, market access, quality assurance, and customer confidence. Some of the benefits are safety and quality assurance for the product, market access, marketability, and confidence for the customer.

Final Thoughts

Obtaining a BIS Certificate under IS 209 for refined zinc products is important for maintaining the quality and standardisation of refined zinc product manufacturing in India, giving manufacturers credibility, consumer trust, and access to wider markets. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or authorised certification bodies hold the required information to make claims about the certification process.

ERCS, as a top BIS Consultant, confirms that your product meets the required IS requirements. The team will ensure that product documentation will meet the BIS requirements, because the staff is knowledgeable of the Indian Standard Specifications and BIS recommendations, and will apply them for the Quality Control Personnel exhibit.