The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has formally announced on its Manakonline portal that the entire Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) will operate on a 100% online application mode with effect from 1st June 2026. From this date, BIS will no longer accept offline / physical FMCS applications. While BIS has not issued a separate gazette notification, the announcement on the official Manakonline portal is the authoritative confirmation of the new regime.
This change directly impacts foreign manufacturers seeking the BIS Standard Mark (ISI Mark), their Authorised Indian Representatives (AIRs), and importers relying on FMCS-licensed overseas vendors. This guide explains exactly what has changed, who is affected, and the immediate action points.
📝 What Exactly Has Changed?
Under the previous regime, FMCS applications were submitted in physical form along with supporting documents couriered to BIS. From 1st June 2026, the following changes take effect:
- All new FMCS licence applications must be filed through manakonline.in
- Existing physical / offline submissions will be rejected without processing
- A single online form replaces multiple paper annexures — now structured in 9 sequential sections
- Documents are uploaded as PDF or Excel files (max 20 MB per file)
- Fees are auto-calculated by the portal in INR; equivalent USD payment remains offline with proof upload
- Application status is visible in real time on the applicant dashboard
📌 BIS has not issued a gazette notification for this specific change. The official announcement is the one published on the BIS Manakonline portal — that constitutes the formal communication for all foreign manufacturers and AIRs.
👤 Who Is Affected?
Foreign Manufacturers
Any overseas factory applying for a new BIS Standard Mark licence under FMCS for products covered by an Indian Standard.
Existing Licence Holders
Companies due for FMCS renewal or seeking inclusion of additional varieties / articles must use the online portal.
Authorised Indian Reps.
AIRs must create / activate their Manakonline account and link to each foreign principal they represent.
Importers / Brand Owners
Importers and brand owners sourcing ISI-marked products must verify their foreign vendor is registered online.
🔗 Why BIS Has Moved to Online-Only Filing
The shift to digital filing is part of a broader BIS modernisation initiative aimed at improving transparency, traceability and turnaround for foreign manufacturer applications. Key drivers include the need to eliminate transit delays for physical paperwork, reduce document handling errors, give applicants real-time visibility, and align FMCS with the digital filing standards already adopted for BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) and other BIS verticals.
📚 The New 9-Section Online Application
The online FMCS form on Manakonline is structured into nine sequential sections. The application is auto-saved as a Draft after each section until payment is completed.
- Application General InformationFirm, office & factory details pre-filled from Organisation Profile; selection of Indian Standard, product varieties & brochures.
- Management DetailsTop management, Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) info, correspondence person and technical / QA personnel.
- Manufacturing ProcessRaw material sources, hygiene declarations, process flow chart, layout plan and machinery list.
- Packaging & BrandPacking nature, marking, labelling, brand / trademark details and Terms & Conditions consent.
- Testing & InspectionIn-house testing facility, list of testing equipment, glassware and Scheme of Inspection & Testing (SIT).
- Test ReportsForm-IV in-house test report and raw material conformity report uploads.
- Declaration & UndertakingStatutory permission declaration, weekly off, authorisation letter and undertakings.
- Application PreviewSection-wise review and edit option before locking the application.
- Pay Application FeeAuto-calculated INR fee, equivalent USD payment offline, upload of NEFT / bank advice as proof.
✅ Immediate Action Points for Manufacturers
If you are a foreign manufacturer planning a fresh BIS Standard Mark licence — or you are due for FMCS renewal in 2026 — these are the steps to take right away:
- Identify a credible Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) and execute the nomination letter
- Collate KYC, factory, machinery, process flow, testing equipment and brand documents in digital format
- Create an applicant account on manakonline.in and complete email + mobile OTP verification
- Fill the Organisation Profile to 100% — only then is the "Apply for New Licence" button unlocked
- Plan the offline USD payment route in advance — keep bank advice ready for upload at the fee step
- Engage an experienced FMCS consultant to draft the SIT and review the preview before fee submission
🛡️ Risks of Late Adoption
Foreign manufacturers who delay account creation, AIR nomination or profile completion run the risk of missing market deadlines once their existing licence expires. Customs holds, e-commerce de-listing and inability to ship ISI-marked goods are real downstream consequences for any gap in FMCS coverage. Starting the online onboarding now — even before filing — protects against these business interruptions.
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