Furniture (Quality Control) Order, 2025: covered furniture, the 180-day import relief and small-business rules

It is the order that makes BIS certification compulsory for common household and office furniture. It is the Furniture (Quality Control) Order, 2025, issued by DPIIT as S.O. 801(E) dated 13 February 2025 and published in the Gazette on 14 February 2025^[1]. It requires six Indian Standards under a Scheme-I (ISI mark) licence^[1].

The order came into force twelve months after publication, and the 2026 Transition Facilitation Order records its implementation date as 13 February 2026^[2]. In February and March 2026 it was amended twice^[5][3] and its small-business threshold was raised^[4]. This page sets out each change and what it means for an importer today.

Six product types, each with its own standard^[1]:

Upholstery fabric for non-domestic furniture is covered separately. The Protective Textiles Quality Control (Upholstered Composites used for Non-Domestic Furniture) Order, 2024, S.O. 3916(E) of 12 September 2024, requires IS 15768:2008^[6]. A finished office sofa or chair may therefore touch both orders: the furniture standard for the item and the textiles order for the upholstered composite. Check both with your supplier; the textiles QCO page covers the upholstery order.

Furniture types not in the six standards above (for example, outdoor or specialist items) are not named in the order. Where an item could be read as a “chair”, “table” or “storage unit”, assume it is covered until BIS says otherwise.

The order text lists no HS codes^[1], and we have not sourced an official mapping. Comploa therefore gives none. Coverage depends on what the product is, judged against the six standards. Do not assume an item escapes the order because of the tariff line you classify it under.

The Second Amendment Order, S.O. 1125(E) of 2 March 2026, gave two routes for goods already in the pipeline when the order started:

1. Shipped before the deadline. Imports whose Bill of Lading shows shipment before the implementation date are exempt if the Bill of Entry is filed on or before 180 days after implementation^[3].
2. Ordered before the deadline. Imports whose purchase order was placed before implementation are exempt if the Bill of Lading and Bill of Entry are dated within 180 days of commencement. The importer must give BIS the purchase order, Bill of Lading, Bill of Entry and supporting documents on signed letterhead within seven days of clearance^[3].

Counted from the 13 February 2026 implementation date, 180 days ends around 12 August 2026. That is our arithmetic; the order does not state a calendar date^[3]. On its terms, then, the relief has expired; that is our reading of the dates, and we found no extension on BIS's list^[6]. A shipment landing in India now needs certified, marked furniture.

If you cleared goods under this relief, keep the seven-day filing to BIS on record. It is the evidence that the goods were lawfully cleared without a mark.

There are two different small-business provisions, and they work differently.

1. The 18-month deferral for micro and small enterprises. As notified, the order did not apply to micro and small enterprises (as defined in the MSMED Act) until eighteen months from publication^[1]. Publication was on 14 February 2025^[1], so by our arithmetic the deferral ran to about mid-August 2026. We found no notification extending it, which suggests it has lapsed, but its status after expiry is not confirmed. Our sources have not established whether it was extended, replaced or simply allowed to end. If you are a micro or small manufacturer relying on it, get written confirmation from BIS or DPIIT.

2. The Udyam exemption for the smallest units. The original order exempted goods made in India by Udyam-registered enterprises with plant and machinery investment up to Rs 25 lakh and turnover up to Rs 2 crore^[1]. S.O. 777(E) of 12 February 2026 raised this to investment up to Rs 1 crore and turnover up to Rs 5 crore, certified by a chartered accountant^[4]. The same S.O. 777(E) set this common threshold in eight QCOs, including furniture^[4]. Unlike the 18-month deferral, this exemption has no end date in our sources.

The Udyam exemption is for goods made in India^[1], and the deferral was framed around MSMED Act enterprises. On our reading, neither helps an importer of foreign-made furniture.

The first amendment, S.O. 774(E) of 12 February 2026, added three reliefs, and the original order exempts exports:

• R&D imports. Certified or applicant furniture manufacturers may import up to 200 units per financial year for R&D, not for sale and to be scrapped^[5].
• Old stock. Certified or applicant manufacturers may sell declared stock made or imported before implementation for up to twelve months from implementation, on self-declaration to BIS^[5].
• Inputs for export production. Indian furniture manufacturers may import non-BIS-marked furniture goods, components or sub-assemblies for export production, on a self-declaration with invoice details and an undertaking not to sell domestically^[5].
• Exports. Goods manufactured in India for export are outside the order^[1].

Note the old-stock relief is only for manufacturers who are certified or have applied. A trader with no link to a certified manufacturer cannot use it.

The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026, S.O. 3417(E) of 25 June 2026, lets DPIIT permit companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, after assessment by an Implementation Committee, to source goods under ten scheduled QCOs through BIS Scheme-II licences^[2]. The Furniture QCO is entry 9 of that Schedule^[2].

Applications are open for 24 months from commencement and the order lapses after five years unless extended. DPIIT is to issue detailed guidelines^[2], which we have not found. This is a permission granted company by company, not a general relaxation.

Yes. As of October 2026 the order is in force since 13 February 2026 and BIS lists no rescission. The 180-day import windows and the 18-month micro and small enterprise deferral have, on their terms, expired^[6]. In-force status is confirmed on BIS's list; the expiry of the windows is worked out from the dates, not stated by BIS. See the QCO tracker for other orders.

Treat every chair, table, desk, storage unit and bed as needing an ISI-marked product from a BIS-licensed factory. The process for a foreign factory is BIS FMCS, leading to an ISI mark licence for each standard.

An importer of office chairs with a container landing in November 2026. The 180-day relief was measured from implementation on 13 February 2026^[3], so on our reading it is no longer available. The chairs need the ISI mark under a licence for IS 17631:2022^[1].

An online seller of beds, desks and storage units from one supplier. Each product type has its own standard, IS 17633 for tables and desks, IS 17634 for storage units and IS 17635 for beds^[1], and a Scheme-I licence covers only the standard and factory it names^[7]. One licence for chairs will not cover the rest of the catalogue.

An Indian furniture exporter importing parts. Non-BIS-marked furniture goods, components or sub-assemblies may be imported for export production on a self-declaration and an undertaking not to sell them in India^[5]. Keep the invoice-level records; the exemption depends on them.

• Relying on the 180-day relief after it ended. Both routes were tied to 180 days from implementation^[3].
• Missing the seven-day filing. Under the purchase-order route, the importer had to give BIS the PO, B/L, B/E and supporting documents within seven days of clearance^[3].
• Assuming the MSE deferral covers importers. It applied to micro and small enterprises under the MSMED Act^[1], and its status after expiry is not confirmed.
• Upholstered items cleared on the furniture licence alone. Non-domestic upholstered composites have their own order^[6].
• Old stock held by a trader. The 12-month stock relief is for certified or applicant manufacturers^[5].

See also why shipments get held at Indian ports.

Each furniture standard has its own annual minimum marking fee, from Rs 1,33,000 (tables and desks) to Rs 2,93,000 (work chairs) for a large factory, plus a unit rate per piece or per 100 pieces^[10].

The small-scale fee is half and the micro fee one fifth of the large-scale fee^[10]. From 17 March 2026 to 31 May 2029 BIS also gives concessions on the minimum fee of 80% for micro enterprises, 50% for small ones and 80% for start-ups, plus 10% more for women-led enterprises^[11]. These follow Indian MSME definitions, so a foreign factory normally pays the large or medium rate.

A large foreign factory making work chairs under IS 17631 pays about Rs 3.19 lakh in fixed BIS charges in year one, and more if it ships high volumes, because the chair unit rate is unusually high.

• Application fee: Rs 1,000^[12].
• Factory inspection: Rs 7,000 per man-day^[12]. A visit to a foreign factory normally lasts two days^[13], so one officer for two days is Rs 14,000.
• Contingency payment: Rs 10,000, plus the officers' per-diem, tickets, visa and insurance^[12].
• Annual licence fee: Rs 1,000^[12].
• Minimum marking fee: Rs 2,93,000 for IS 17631 at the large-scale rate^[10].
• Testing: the actual charges of the BIS or BIS-recognised lab in India that tests the samples drawn at the visit^[14].
• Bank guarantee: a USD 10,000 Performance Bank Guarantee after grant^[9]. It is security, not a fee.

That is Rs 3,19,000 by our arithmetic. Volume matters here: at Rs 4.9 per chair^[10], a factory marking 1,00,000 chairs a year would owe Rs 4,90,000 on volume, well above the minimum. A BIS grant letter seen by consultants says the higher of the actual and the minimum fee is payable at renewal^[15]. A supplier that also ships desks and storage units needs two more licences, with minimums of Rs 1,33,000 and Rs 2,23,000^[10]. Ask suppliers whether these costs are in their India price. Model it in the compliance cost estimator, and see FMCS fees, ISI fees and ISI licence costs.

The factory files online on Manakonline with an Authorised Indian Representative, a process flow chart, its quality system, raw-material and component details, machinery and test-equipment lists, product drawings, QC staff papers, test reports and plant layout^[16].

The importer cannot apply on the factory's behalf^[14]. The AIR must be an Indian resident, at least a graduate, with no conflict of interest with labs^[17], and may normally represent only one foreign maker unless they share a group or the AIR is a related importer^[17]. Foreign applications go through option-1 with a factory visit and samples drawn^[18]; BIS gives about six months as the average FMCS grant time^[9]. Furniture factories rarely run full test labs, and since December 2025 they need not: sub-contracted testing at recognised or ISO/IEC 17025 labs is allowed^[19]. See ISI documents and the Manakonline guide.

Ask for a CM/L number for each product type you buy and check it before paying the deposit. Every ISI licence number takes the form CM/L- followed by digits^[20], and BIS requires it on the product with the Standard Mark, preferably below it^[21].

BIS's free BIS Care app fetches the licensee's details from a CM/L number^[22]. Check three things against your purchase order:

1. The standard. The licence must name the Indian Standard for your item, for example IS 17631 for an office chair or IS 17634 for a wardrobe.
2. The factory. A licence covers one product standard at one factory^[7], so a licence held by the supplier's other plant does not count.
3. The varieties. The mark may be used only on the varieties, sizes or grades in the licence's scope^[23].

Our guide on how to verify a BIS licence shows each screen. A chair licence will not cover a desk from the same factory.

Sellers are liable alongside importers: the BIS Act's definition of 'person' includes sellers and retailers^[24]. E-commerce stock is a known surveillance target.

In FY 2024-25 BIS reportedly bought 344 QCO product samples from e-commerce platforms, and 142 had no valid licence^[25]. BIS branches can run drives against any QCO violation in their area^[26]. Show the ISI mark and CM/L number in product images and keep each supplier's licence on file. See compliance for Amazon sellers and D2C brands.

Not by law. Because the order is new, many first-time foreign applicants use a consultant to handle the AIR role, samples and BIS's visit.

BIS has 36 branch offices and 10 of its own laboratories^[27]. Its list of recognised outside labs had 444 entries on 30 October 2026, all of them in India^[28]. Since December 2025 a manufacturer no longer needs an in-house laboratory; shared, cluster or sub-contracted testing at BIS-recognised or ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labs is allowed^[19].

Consultant pricing varies widely, and published prices rarely say what they include. One consultancy lists an ISI professional fee from Rs 40,000, with testing and marking fees extra^[29]. Start with the BIS consultants directory, with city pages such as Delhi and Bengaluru, and the BIS labs directory. Our guide to choosing a BIS consultant lists the red flags. Bulky samples make lab location matter; see Delhi NCR labs.

Fees, production and consignee reports, market samples and a timely renewal. The first renewals under this order fall from 2027 onward, so set reminders now.

• Market surveillance. BIS generally buys two market samples a year per licence for third-party testing^[26], and may draw them anywhere in the supply chain, including the port of entry^[26].
• Consignee reports. Licensees report month-wise production and consignee details every quarter^[26].
• Renewal. An FMCS renewal needs Form XII, production details with consignee addresses, a bank guarantee extended six months beyond validity and the marking fees; late renewal costs Rs 5,000 extra^[30].
• Automatic expiry. Licences more than 90 days past validity expire automatically on the portal^[31].

Set a reminder with the licence renewal date tool, and see ISI licence renewal for the forms.

Flat-packed retail furniture usually needs Legal Metrology registration and plastic EPR for its packaging, plus the IEC and Bill of Entry rules.

• Legal Metrology. Anyone importing a commodity for sale in pre-packed form must register under rule 27^[32] within 90 days of starting^[32], for a Rs 500 fee^[32]. See LMPC.
• Plastic EPR. Importing goods in plastic packaging, such as foam and film wrap, makes you an importer under the plastic EPR rules^[33], with CPCB registration^[33]. See plastic EPR.
• IEC and customs. No import without an IEC unless exempt^[34]; see IEC code. The Bill of Entry is due by the end of the day before arrival^[35], and you must keep it for five years^[36].

Most problems come from relief that has expired, a licence for the wrong product type, or upholstery that needs its own certificate.

Section 17 of the BIS Act prohibits importing, selling, storing or exhibiting for sale notified goods without a Standard Mark under a valid licence^[24]. Contravention is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of not less than Rs 2 lakh (first contravention) and not less than Rs 5 lakh (later ones), extendable to ten times the value of the goods, or both^[24]. The Act's definition of “person” includes importers and sellers^[24].

BIS officers may search premises and seize goods they believe breach section 17^[37], and a first offence not punishable with imprisonment alone can be compounded^[24]. See what happens if you sell without BIS and the QCO hub for other consumer-goods orders.

Check each product type separately, and check the textiles order for upholstered items. The QCO deadline checker tells you whether an order applies on a given date, the QCO data table lists every order with its standards and dates, and the QCO tracker logs each change newest first. BIS's upcoming list showed 30 product entries pending between 6 November 2026 and 1 May 2027 when we last checked^[38]. To screen a whole catalogue, try the HS code approval finder and the compliance cost estimator. If you are unsure whether an item is caught, ask for a free compliance check.