Furniture (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2026 - Detailed Information

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through its Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, published a new notification on 2 March 2026, which amends the current Furniture (Quality Control) Order 2025. The Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016 provides the legal framework for this amendment, which was developed after discussions with the Bureau of Indian Standards. 

The Furniture (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order 2026 provides relief to businesses and importers who had already placed furniture orders before the BIS certification requirement became mandatory. The document explains which exemptions exist while providing information on how businesses can maintain compliance for their shipments that began before the Quality Control Order came into effect.

Understanding the Furniture Quality Control Order

The Government of India established the Furniture (Quality Control) Order 2025 to create furniture products that meet particular quality standards and safety requirements for sale in the Indian market. Under this order:

• Furniture products must comply with Indian Standards.
• Manufacturers and importers must obtain BIS certification.
• Products must carry the ISI Mark before they can be sold in India.

The order protects consumers from substandard furniture products while it improves product quality and creates a fair market competition environment. The regulation created difficulties for businesses that already had pending orders and shipments of products at the time of its implementation. The government issued the Second Amendment Order 2026 to solve this problem.

Why Did the Government Introduce the Furniture QCO Second Amendment?

The main reason for introducing the amendment was to avoid financial losses and logistical problems for businesses. Many importers had already:

• Placed purchase orders with foreign suppliers
• Shipped goods before the implementation date
• Made advance payments for furniture consignments

If the government strictly enforced the rule without considering these situations, many shipments could have been stuck at ports or rejected, causing heavy losses. Therefore, the amendment provides temporary exemptions for such consignments, provided certain conditions are met.

Key Highlights of the Furniture (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order

1. Exemption for Goods Shipped Before the Implementation Date. Furniture products will not be subjected to Quality Control Order (QCO) under the following conditions: 

• The Goods were shipped before the QCO implementation date
• The shipment has a Bill of Lading dated before the implementation date
• The importer files the Bill of Entry within 180 days from the implementation date of the order
• Which means that goods already in transit before the rule came into effect can still be imported without BIS certification, as long as the required documentation is valid. 

2. Exemption for Purchase Orders Placed Earlier: 

An important relief has been provided for companies that placed purchase orders before the implementation of the new rule. This exemption applies under the following conditions: 

• The purchase order was issued before the implementation date
• The bill of lading and Bill of Entry are dated within 180 days from the date the rule came into force
• This ensures that businesses that had already committed to suppliers are not penalized due to the new regulation. 
• Additionally, the amendment order introduced two different exemptions specifically for imported furniture products.

What Importers Should Do Now

The following steps need to be performed by furniture importing businesses. 

• Businesses need to check the Furniture QCO implementation date. 
• The shipment date must be verified according to the Bill of Lading. 
• The Bill of Entry needs to be submitted within a 180-day period. 
• Businesses need to prepare their complete document requirements, which they will submit to BIS. 
• The document submission process requires businesses to submit their documents within 7 days after customs clearance. 
• The company will achieve successful exemption claims when it implements these particular steps.

Check the ISI Certification Process for Indian Manufacturers 

Check the BIS FMCS Certification Process for Foreign Manufacturers 

Importance of BIS Certification for Furniture Products

The amendment grants temporary relief, yet all furniture products that are imported or manufactured after the implementation date must meet BIS standards. The process of obtaining BIS certification provides multiple advantages, which include

• The certification process guarantees that products meet safety standards and maintain required quality levels
• The certification establishes consumer confidence in products
• This allows businesses to sell their furniture products through legal channels in India
• The certification process helps businesses improve their brand reputation while gaining a competitive edge in the market. 
• Businesses that want to bring furniture into India must begin their BIS certification process before their planned import date to eliminate potential delays.

List of furniture Products obtaining ISI Mark Certification: 

• Work chairs - IS 17631
• General-purpose chairs and stools - IS 17632
• Tables and desks - IS 17633
• Storage units-  IS 17634
• Beds - IS 17635
• Bunk beds - IS 17636

Conclusion

The Government of India introduced the Furniture (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order 2026 to assist businesses during their transition to mandatory BIS certification for furniture products. The government established shipment exemptions for products that were ordered or shipped before the Quality Control Order took effect to protect importers from unfair treatment under the new regulation. The businesses need to comply with all documentation requirements and their respective submission timelines to successfully obtain their exemption. The Indian furniture market requires manufacturers and importers to achieve complete compliance with BIS certification standards for their business operations to continue without interruptions.