On this page
- Key facts
- How to use this product label checklist
- Which marks does your product need on its label?
- Product label checklist at a glance: 20 label items and the rule behind each
- In what order should you approve a label?
- BIS Standard Mark: what must appear and where?
- Legal Metrology: which declarations go on the package?
- Battery marks: bin symbol, chemistry and EPR number
- Plastic packaging marks
- BEE star label and telecom marks
- Label pass marks: sizes and limits that decide whether a label passes
- Which label marks do common imported products need?
- Worked example: the label set for an imported Bluetooth speaker
- What must match on your online listing?
- Common label mistakes on imported goods
- What should you do when a label check fails?
- What are the penalties for a wrong label?
- Which free tools help check a label?
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Key facts at a glance
- Standard Mark contents
- R-number and IS number[1]
- Minimum text size in the mark
- Arial 6[1]
- BIS website on label
- www.bis.gov.in[2]
- Mark on tiny products
- Packaging only allowed[3]
- Unit sale price
- Required since 1 January 2024[4]
- Label language
- Hindi (Devanagari) or English[5]
- MRP sticker
- Only a reduced-MRP sticker; never cover the original[5]
- Battery bin symbol
- At least 3% of the largest side[6]
- Battery EPR number
- Mandatory since 31 March 2025[7]
- BEE label
- Must carry a QR code[8]
Checked 1 November 2026 against the regulator's own documents.
How to use this product label checklist
Labels are cheapest to fix before the factory prints them. Use this checklist to write one artwork brief for the factory covering every Indian requirement, then check the first production sample against it before the goods ship.
The requirements come from different laws: the BIS Standard Mark from the CRS licence, package declarations from the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, battery and plastic marks from the EPR rules, and the star label from BEE. Each section below says which items apply to which products. For BIS marking in detail, see BIS CRS labelling; for package declarations, see Legal Metrology label rules.
A note on timing: Legal Metrology declarations can be completed after landing, in AEO Tier-2 or Tier-3 bonded warehouses, as long as every retail package carries them before it leaves[9]. The Standard Mark cannot be added by the importer, because it is applied under the factory's licence[10].
Which marks does your product need on its label?
| Requirement | Applies to | Where it goes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIS Standard Mark with R-number and IS number | Products on the CRS list | Product, package or both | [1] |
| ISI mark with CM/L licence number | Products under a Scheme-I QCO | Below the mark | [11] |
| Legal Metrology declarations | Pre-packaged retail goods | Principal display panel | [5] |
| Crossed-out wheeled bin symbol | Batteries and battery packs | Battery, or packaging if too small | [6] |
| Battery EPR registration number | Batteries, incl. inside equipment | Equipment or its packaging for imports | [12] |
| Producer or brand owner name and registration number | Plastic packaging | Packaging, or QR code | [13] |
| BEE star label with QR code | Appliances on BEE's mandatory list | Every unit, online and offline | [8] |
| MTCTE certificate details | Notified telecom equipment | As TEC specifies | [14] |
Product label checklist at a glance: 20 label items and the rule behind each
Twenty items cover the label of a typical imported electronic product. Each traces to a clause: BIS's CRS marking guidelines, a rule of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, a schedule of the battery rules, or the plastic and BEE rules. Run your artwork through the label checker against the same list.
| Label item | Rule | Where | What goes wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Mark with R-number and IS number | CRS marking guidelines[1] | Product, pack or both | Old IS 13252 reference after migration to IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Mark legible, indelible, non-removable | [1] | Product, pack or both | Printed on a peel-off sticker |
| Mark text at Arial 6 or larger | [1] | With the mark | Shrunk to fit a small box |
| Mark colour | [1] | With the mark | Multicolour in brand colours |
| www.bis.gov.in | [2] | Product or pack | Dropped when an e-label is used |
| Model, batch, date or week of manufacture, maker's address | [1] | Product, pack or attached label | Batch code missing |
| Importer's name and complete address | LMPC rule 10(1)[5] | Retail pack | Only the overseas factory shown |
| Country of origin | LMPC rule 6[4] | Retail pack | 'Designed in' wording used instead |
| Generic name and net quantity | [4] | Retail pack | Brand name only, no generic name |
| Month and year of manufacture | [5] | Retail pack | Month of import printed |
| MRP and unit sale price | G.S.R. 722(E)[4] | Retail pack | Unit sale price missing |
| Consumer care details | Rule 6(2)[5] | Retail pack | No e-mail address |
| Declarations on the principal display panel | Rule 8(1)[5] | One panel or grouped | Scattered across all six sides |
| Hindi or English | Rule 9(4)[5] | All declarations | Foreign language only |
| Outer wrapper declarations | Rule 9(3)[5] | Opaque outer sleeve | Sleeve hides the inner label |
| Crossed-out wheeled bin | Battery rules[6] | Battery, or pack if too small | Symbol undersized |
| Hg, Cd or Pb marking | [15] | Under the bin symbol | Omitted on lead-acid packs |
| Battery EPR number | [12] | Equipment or pack, or QR[15] | Number not sent to the factory |
| Plastic producer or brand owner details | PWM rule 11[13] | Plastic packaging, or QR[16] | Left off on the assumption imports are exempt |
| BEE star label with QR code | BEE 2026 Regulations[8] | Appliance and online listing | Printed before BEE permission[8] |
In what order should you approve a label?
Approve the label in the factory, before mass production, and check a real production unit before the goods ship. Fixing a label in India is possible for some declarations but costs a bonded-warehouse operation; fixing the Standard Mark in India is not an option because it is applied under the factory's licence.
- 1
- 2Write one artwork brief
List every item in the table above that applies to your product. The approval checker tells you which regimes apply.
- 3Lay out the principal display panel
Group the LMPC declarations on one panel with clear space around the net quantity[5], and check letter heights against the panel size.
- 4Check the artwork
Run the PDF through the label checker and compare it against LMPC label rules and BIS CRS labelling.
- 5Approve a pre-production sample
Ask the factory for photos of a printed sample: product, retail box, outer carton and battery.
- 6Inspect the first production lot
Check a unit from the actual lot, especially sticker durability and print size.
- 7Match the listing
Copy the declarations into marketplace listings exactly; see before listing on Amazon.
BIS Standard Mark: what must appear and where?
The mark can only be printed once the factory's licence is granted and covers your brand and model. Everything in this list comes from BIS's CRS marking guidelines.
Legal Metrology: which declarations go on the package?
These declarations apply to pre-packaged goods sold at retail. Packages for industrial or institutional buyers are exempt from the retail provisions[4], as are packages over 25 kg or 25 litres[5].
Battery marks: bin symbol, chemistry and EPR number
Plastic packaging marks
BEE star label and telecom marks
Label pass marks: sizes and limits that decide whether a label passes
Most label failures are about size or placement, not content. These are the measurable limits in the rules.
| Item | Pass mark | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Mark text | Arial 6 or larger | [1] |
| E-label on a screen | Within four menu steps; physical pack label still needed | [17] |
| Bin symbol | 3% of largest side (1.5% cylindrical), max 5 cm x 5 cm; at least 1 cm x 1 cm on the pack if the battery is too small | [6] |
| Hg, Cd, Pb letters | At least a quarter of the bin symbol; Cd and Pb not needed at or below 20 ppm and 40 ppm | [15] |
| LMPC letter height (2011 rule) | At least 1 mm; 2 mm if moulded or embossed | [5] |
| LMPC letter height (2017 amendment, reported) | 1 mm up to 50 sq cm panel, rising to 6 mm above 2,500 sq cm | [22] |
| Tiny packages | 5 cc or less: a firmly affixed card or tape may carry the declarations | [5] |
| Unit sale price | In rupees to two decimals (reported) | [23] |
| Ceiling fan BEE label | On the top view of the fan and on the box | [24] |
Which label marks do common imported products need?
The mark set depends on the product. Electronics on the CRS list carry the Standard Mark with an R-number; products under a Scheme-I QCO carry the ISI mark with a CM/L number instead[11]. The table shows the combinations for common imports.
| Product | BIS mark | Battery marks | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth earphones | Standard Mark, pack only if too small[3] | Yes[25] | LMPC declarations |
| Power banks | Standard Mark[26] | Yes[25] | LMPC declarations |
| Smartwatches | Standard Mark; e-label optional[17] | Yes[25] | LMPC declarations |
| Mobile chargers | Standard Mark, reported category[26] | No for mains chargers | LMPC declarations |
| LED bulbs | Standard Mark[26] | Rechargeable only | BEE star label[27] |
| Televisions | Standard Mark, 32 inches and above[28] | If batteries are supplied | BEE label; Rs 10 a set fee[8] |
| Ceiling fans | ISI[29] | No | BEE label on fan top and box[24] |
| Extension boards | ISI, likely[30] | No | LMPC declarations |
| Toys | ISI[31] | If battery-powered | LMPC declarations |
| Laptops | Standard Mark[28] | Yes[25] | BEE label voluntary, Rs 20 a unit[8] |
Worked example: the label set for an imported Bluetooth speaker
Take a Bluetooth speaker with a built-in lithium battery, imported in a retail box with a plastic inner bag. Bluetooth speakers are a CRS category under IS 616:2017[28], the battery brings battery EPR[7], and the inner bag brings plastic EPR[32]. Speakers are also among the products covered by self-declaration WPC ETA[33], which has no marking rule in our sources, so it is not in the table. The artwork brief to the factory would look like this:
| Item | On the speaker | On the retail box | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Mark, R-number, IS 616 reference | Yes, if size allows | Yes | [1][3] |
| www.bis.gov.in | Either | Either | [2] |
| Model, batch, week of manufacture, maker's address | Either, or attached label | Either | [1] |
| Importer name and address, country of origin, generic name, net quantity | No | Yes | [4] |
| Month and year of manufacture, MRP, unit sale price | No | Yes | [4] |
| Consumer care name, address, phone, e-mail | No | Yes | [5] |
| Crossed-out wheeled bin | On the battery | Box if the symbol would be too small | [6] |
| Battery EPR registration number | Either | Either, or QR code | [12][15] |
| Plastic EPR name and registration number | No | On the plastic bag, or QR code (rule text conflicts for imports) | [13] |
What must match on your online listing?
Marketplaces repeat the package information online. A seller must give the platform product details including country of origin and the importer's details[34], and a 2017 Legal Metrology amendment reportedly requires e-commerce entities to display the mandatory declarations for pre-packaged goods[35]. BEE labels must appear at online points of sale too[8]. Keep the listing text and the physical label identical; mismatches are easy for an inspector to spot. See before listing on Flipkart.
Common label mistakes on imported goods
- Month of import instead of month of manufacture. The rule now asks for manufacture[5].
- No unit sale price. Required alongside MRP since 1 January 2024[4].
- Standard Mark too small or without the IS number[1].
- E-label only. The packaging still needs a physical mark[17].
- Missing battery EPR number after the 31 March 2025 deadline[7].
- MRP over-stickered. Only a reduced-MRP sticker is allowed[5].
Penalties for wrong package declarations have changed: after the 2026 Jan Vishwas amendments, a first offence gets an improvement notice and a second a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh[36].
What should you do when a label check fails?
If the goods have not shipped, reprint at the factory. If they are already in India, some declarations can be fixed before sale; the Standard Mark cannot be added by the importer. The table sets out the routes.
| Failed check | Fix | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| LMPC declarations missing on landed stock | Complete them in an AEO Tier-2 or Tier-3 bonded warehouse before release[9] | LMPC |
| MRP too high | Add a reduced-MRP sticker that leaves the original visible[5] | LMPC label rules |
| Long address will not fit | Register a shorter address under rule 28 and print that[5] | LMPC importer registration |
| Standard Mark missing or wrong | Goods cannot be sold; the mark is applied under the factory's licence[10][37] | BIS CRS labelling |
| Battery EPR number missing | Use the QR or brochure route after informing CPCB[15] | Battery EPR |
| BEE label missing or counterfeit | Answer the show-cause notice within 30 days, or lose the security deposit and the model registration for a year[8] | BEE star label |
| Improvement notice from Legal Metrology | Fix the listed items in the time given[36] | Free compliance check |
What are the penalties for a wrong label?
Each regime penalises its own marks. A wrong Legal Metrology declaration draws an improvement notice for a first offence, up to Rs 5 lakh for a second and Rs 25-50 lakh after that, including for goods offered online[36]. Selling CRS goods without a valid Standard Mark breaches section 17 of the BIS Act[37], with a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh on a first contravention, up to ten times the value of the goods[37]. Not following battery labelling rules attracts environmental compensation of Rs 20,000 for a first default, Rs 40,000 for a second and Rs 80,000 for a third[38]. For BEE, an unexplained label failure costs the security deposit and a one-year suspension of the model[8]. More on enforcement in Legal Metrology penalties and selling without BIS.
Which free tools help check a label?
The label checker tests artwork against the items on this page. The approval checker and HS code approval finder tell you which regimes, and so which marks, apply. The compliance cost estimator prices the approvals behind each mark. For the wider first-shipment sequence, see the first electronics import checklist and the customs clearance documents checklist. Unsure about a borderline mark? Ask for a free compliance check.
Frequently asked questions
What must the BIS Standard Mark show?
The R-number and the Indian Standard reference[1], in text no smaller than Arial size 6[1], plus www.bis.gov.in on the product or package[2].
Can the BIS mark go only on the box?
Marking should be on both product and package where possible, but if the product is too small, such as earphones, it can go on the packaging only[3].
Which Legal Metrology declarations does an imported product need?
Importer name and address, country of origin, generic name, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, MRP, unit sale price and consumer care details[4].
Can I add Indian labels after the goods arrive?
Must the label be in Hindi?
No. Declarations can be in Hindi in Devanagari script or in English, and other languages may be added[5].
Where does the battery EPR number go on an imported gadget?
Can I correct a wrong MRP with a sticker?
Only to show a reduced MRP, and the sticker must not cover the original price[5].
Does every appliance need a BEE star label?
Only those on BEE's mandatory list, such as refrigerators, ACs, TVs and LED lamps[8], and only with BEE's prior permission[8].
How big must the battery bin symbol be?
At least 3% of the largest side of the battery (1.5% for cylindrical cells), up to 5 cm x 5 cm. If that would be smaller than 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm, a symbol of at least 1 cm x 1 cm goes on the packaging instead[6].
Can a QR code replace the printed label declarations?
What is the penalty for wrong Legal Metrology labels?
A first offence draws an improvement notice, a second a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh, and later offences a fine of Rs 25-50 lakh, including for goods offered through online marketplaces[36].
How tall must the letters in Legal Metrology declarations be?
Sources 38 documents, 32 official
Each number in the text links to the document below. Labels show the type of source; see our editorial policy.
- Gazette BIS Registration Dept circular 06.09.2019 on marking + Scheme-II para 6 and Annexures I-III (Gazette extract) + e-labelling circular 13.09.2017 · 4 June 2018
- Official circular BIS Registration Dept circular 06.09.2019 · 6 September 2019
- Official circular MeitY FAQs (phase IV and V products)
- Official circular Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2673 (07.08.2024): Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 - answer by MoS Consumer Affairs · 7 August 2024
- Official portal The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (G.S.R. 202(E), 7 March 2011) - copy hosted by Directorate of Legal Metrology, West Bengal · 7 March 2011
- Gazette Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 - S.O. 3984(E), Gazette of India · 22 August 2022
- Gazette Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2023 - S.O. 4669(E) · 25 October 2023
- Gazette Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labeling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 - Notification No. 5506/BEE/S&L/AL/2025-26 dated 26 Dec 2025, Gazette of India Extraordinary Part III Sec 4 (CG-DL-E-29122025-268894) · 26 December 2025
- Gazette G.S.R. 418(E), 29 May 2026 - Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Third Amendment Rules, 2026 (Gazette of India, Extraordinary) · 29 May 2026
- Official portal About CRS - crsbis.in
- Official portal BIS: BIS Standard Mark (FMCS certification process)
- Official circular CPCB Notice dated 28 May 2024 on MoEFCC OM of 17 May 2024 (recycled material and labelling) · 28 May 2024
- Gazette Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022 - G.S.R. 522(E) · 6 July 2022
- Gazette G.S.R. 315(E), 16 May 2025 - Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025 (Gazette copy on DoT eServices) · 16 May 2025
- Gazette Battery Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2025 - S.O. 958(E) · 24 February 2025
- Gazette Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025 - G.S.R. 73(E), Gazette of India · 23 January 2025
- Official circular BIS CMD-III e-labelling guidelines 13.09.2017 · 13 September 2017
- Official circular Advisory for applicants for Grant of Licence under CRS · 15 January 2025
- Official circular Guidelines for Renewal of Licence (RoL) under Scheme-II, Ref RG:03 · 20 August 2019
- Reported TeamLease RegTech - Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules, 2023 · 6 October 2023Not yet confirmed officially
- Gazette Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 - G.S.R. 201(E) (gazette copy hosted by TNPCB) · 14 March 2024
- Reported Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules, 2017 - text reproduced by LegitQuest · 23 June 2017Not yet confirmed officially
- Reported Secondary summaries of G.S.R. 226(E) (taxguru, legitquest, teamlease) · 28 March 2022Not yet confirmed officially
- Gazette Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labeling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 - Notification No. 5506/BEE/S&L/AL/2025-26 dated 26 Dec 2025, Gazette of India Extraordinary Part III Sec 4 · 26 December 2025
- Gazette Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 (S.O. 3984(E)) · 22 August 2022
- Official portal BIS CRS portal - Standard Number(s) list (product category vs IS number)Not yet confirmed officially
- Official portal BEE - Self-ballasted LED Lamps notifications table
- Official portal Products under CRS - crsbis.in (Products BIS list)
- Gazette Electric Ceiling Type Fans (Quality Control) Order, 2023 - S.O. 3641(E) · 9 August 2023
- Gazette DPIIT S.O. 2166(E): Plugs and Socket-Outlets and AC Direct Connected Static Prepayment Meters for Active Energy (Quality Control) Order, 2021 · 7 June 2021Not yet confirmed officially
- Gazette Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 - S.O. 853(E), Gazette of India Extraordinary · 25 February 2020
- Gazette G.S.R. 133(E): Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022 - Guidelines on EPR for Plastic Packaging (copy hosted by TNPCB) · 16 February 2022
- Official portal Equipment Type Approval (ETA) - DoT eServices Portal (last updated 28-05-2025) · 28 May 2025
- Gazette Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, G.S.R. 462(E), 23 July 2020 (Gazette of India) · 23 July 2020
- Reported S.S. Rana & Co. - E-commerce websites now come under the purview of the Legal Metrology Act; Lok Sabha answer cited in search results · 23 June 2017Not yet confirmed officially
- Gazette The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (No. 8 of 2026), Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II Sec 1, 8 April 2026 (CG-DL-E-08042026-271642), copy hosted on dgma.gov.in · 8 April 2026
- Gazette The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (Act No. 11 of 2016) · 21 March 2016
- Official circular CPCB Notice (10 Sep 2024) enclosing Guidelines for Environment Compensation under BWM Rules, 2022 (August 2024) and MoEFCC concurrence of 9 Sep 2024 · 10 September 2024