In a significant move against the distribution of non-compliant products, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has carried out extensive search and seizure operations at multiple warehouse locations of leading e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs stated that the operation, aimed at curbing the sale of products that do not conform to mandatory safety standards, was conducted in cities such as Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi.
During a raid on 7 March at an Amazon warehouse in Lucknow, BIS officials seized 215 toys and 24 hand blenders, all lacking the requisite BIS certification.
Similarly, a previous operation in February at an Amazon facility in Gurugram 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—none of which met the prescribed quality standards, according to the ministry’s statement issued on Saturday evening.
A parallel raid at a Flipkart warehouse in Gurugram, operated by Instakart Services Pvt Ltd, led to the seizure of 534 stainless steel vacuum-insulated bottles, 134 toys, and 41 uncertified speakers.
The government further disclosed that investigations by BIS linked multiple violations on both Amazon and Flipkart to Techvision International Pvt Ltd.
Acting on this information, BIS officials raided two Techvision International facilities in Delhi, where approximately 7,000 electric water heaters, 4,000 electric food mixers, 95 electric room heaters, and 40 gas stoves—none bearing BIS certification—were discovered.
Non-certified products from well-known brands, including Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly, were among those seized, the statement noted.
Legal action and penalties
Following the seizures, BIS initiated legal proceedings under the BIS Act, 2016, to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Two court cases have already been filed against M/s Techvision International Pvt Ltd for violations of Sections 17(1) and 17(3) of the Act, while additional cases are being prepared for other instances of non-compliance.
“Under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016, defaulters face a penalty not less than two lakh rupees, which may extend up to ten times the value of the goods sold or offered for sale. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the violation, offenders may also face imprisonment of up to two years,” the statement added.
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BIS has ramped up market surveillance to ensure that products sold online and in physical stores adhere to established safety and quality standards.
As part of this effort, the agency routinely purchases consumer products and subjects them to rigorous testing to verify compliance.
Items under scrutiny include domestic pressure cookers, hand-held blenders, food mixers, electric irons, room heaters, PVC cables, gas stoves, toys, two-wheeler helmets, switches, sockets, and aluminium foils used for food packaging.
The Central Government has mandated BIS certification for these products in the public interest to mitigate potential hazards posed by substandard items.
The ministry further revealed that despite these regulations, several non-certified products continue to be sold on platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket.
“Non-certified products include those that do not bear the ISI Mark or bear an ISI Mark with an invalid license number (CM/L number). These non-certified products pose significant safety risks to consumers as they have not undergone independent third-party testing to ensure they meet minimum safety and performance standards,” it stated.
"Consumers need to be vigilant"
In light of these findings, BIS has urged consumers to exercise caution while making purchases and to utilise the BIS Care app, which provides information on products requiring mandatory certification.
Through the app, consumers can verify the authenticity of an ISI Mark and check the manufacturer’s license number (CM/L).
The app also facilitates the lodging of complaints regarding non-certified products and quality concerns.
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