Few product categories carry as direct a child-safety mandate as toys, and BIS certification here reflects that: the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (S.O. 853(E), dated 25 February 2020) requires every notified toy to be tested against the applicable parts of IS 9873, India's comprehensive toy safety standard, before it can be manufactured, imported or sold. This category is one of the most closely watched in Indian product regulation, given its direct bearing on children's health and safety.
This guide sets out all 6 currently notified parts of IS 9873 for non-electric toys, explains what each part actually tests, and walks through the BIS ISI licensing process, documentation, timeline and common pitfalls for toy manufacturers and importers.
🎯 What Is BIS ISI (Scheme-I) Certification?
BIS Scheme-I is the classical Indian Standards Institution (ISI) mark scheme — India's original and most rigorous product certification route. Unlike the self-declaration model used under CRS for electronics, Scheme-I certification requires the manufacturer to hold a BIS licence granted only after laboratory testing and a physical BIS audit of the factory's manufacturing process and quality control system. The ISI mark on a product is a direct assurance that both the product and the process producing it meet the notified Indian Standard.
📌 Electric toys are certified separately: toys with electrical components fall under IS 15644 (Safety of Electric Toys) as a distinct category from this non-electric toys listing, even though both sit under the same overarching Toys QCO.
📄 The Governing Quality Control Order
This category is notified under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (S.O. 853(E), dated 25 February 2020). Amended by the Toys (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2020 (two amendments), the Toys (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2024 (S.O. 4277(E), dated 1 October 2024), and the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 (S.O. 3417(E), dated 25 June 2026).
📜 All 6 Parts of IS 9873 Covered for Non-Electric Toys
The Toys (Quality Control) Order notifies the following 6 parts of IS 9873 for non-electric toys, each addressing a distinct safety dimension. A single toy typically needs to comply with several parts simultaneously, depending on its materials, construction and intended use:
| Sr. | IS Number | Product / Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IS 9873 (Part 1):2018 | Safety of Toys — Part 1: Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties |
| 2 | IS 9873 (Part 2):2017 | Safety of Toys — Part 2: Flammability |
| 3 | IS 9873 (Part 3):2017 | Safety Requirements for Toys — Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements |
| 4 | IS 9873 (Part 4):2017 | Safety of Toys — Part 4: Swings, Slides and Similar Activity Toys for Indoor and Outdoor Family Domestic Use |
| 5 | IS 9873 (Part 7):2017 | Safety of Toys — Part 7: Requirements and Test Methods for Finger Paints |
| 6 | IS 9873 (Part 9):2017 | Safety of Toys — Part 9: Certain Phthalate Esters in Toys and Children's Products |
🧩 What Each Part of IS 9873 Actually Verifies
Part 1 — Mechanical & Physical
Small parts choking hazards, sharp points/edges, structural integrity under stress and impact, and age-appropriate design.
Part 2 — Flammability
How readily toy materials ignite and how fast flame spreads, particularly relevant for soft/fabric toys.
Part 3 — Chemical Migration
Limits on toxic elements (such as heavy metals) that could migrate from toy materials into a child's body.
Part 4 — Activity Toys
Structural safety for swings, slides and similar play equipment for domestic indoor/outdoor use.
Part 7 — Finger Paints
Composition and safety limits specific to finger paints as a toy/creative product for children.
Part 9 — Phthalates
Limits on specific phthalate esters (plasticisers) in toys and children's products, given their known health concerns.
📋 Step-by-Step: BIS ISI (Scheme-I) Licensing Process
Scheme-I is a test-and-audit certification, more rigorous than the self-declaration route used for CRS-scheme electronics. The sequence is:
- Identify the applicable IS standard(s)Confirm which of the notified Indian Standards under this QCO apply to your exact product variant and specification.
- Test at a BIS-recognised laboratorySubmit representative samples for testing against the applicable IS standard. The test report is the foundation of the ISI licence application.
- Prepare documentationCompile factory details, quality control records, product technical data, and — for foreign manufacturers — the Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) nomination under FMCS.
- File the online applicationSubmit the application on the BIS Manak Online portal with the test report, factory details, and supporting documents.
- Factory auditUnlike the CRS self-declaration route, Scheme-I (ISI) certification involves a physical BIS assessment of the manufacturing unit and its quality control system.
- Grant of licence and ISI markBIS reviews the application and audit findings and grants the licence with a unique licence number, allowing use of the ISI mark on the product.
- Surveillance, renewal and market samplingLicensees remain under periodic BIS surveillance, including market sample testing, and must renew the licence on schedule.
📂 Documents Required
A complete file at the outset shortens both the review and audit stages. You will typically need:
- Test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory against the applicable IS standard
- Factory registration, business incorporation and address proof
- Product technical specifications, drawings and bill of materials
- In-house quality control and testing facility details
- Manufacturing process flow chart and machinery list
- Trademark / brand authorisation documents
- For foreign manufacturers: Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) nomination under FMCS
- Marking / label artwork showing the IS standard and ISI licence number
- Authorised signatory details and application declarations
⏱ Timeline & Renewal
Because Scheme-I combines laboratory testing with a factory audit, timelines run longer than the self-declaration CRS route. Once granted, the BIS ISI licence remains subject to ongoing surveillance, including unannounced market sampling, and must be renewed on schedule to stay valid.
⚠ Common Mistakes That Delay ISI Licensing
- Certifying against a superseded standard — IS standards and their governing QCOs are periodically amended; always confirm the current in-force version before testing.
- Treating it like CRS self-declaration — Scheme-I requires a factory audit in addition to testing; manufacturers who plan only for lab testing are caught off guard by the audit stage.
- Missing a variant's distinct standard — product ranges spanning multiple IS standards in the same category need a separate licence for each; assuming one licence covers the whole range is a common and costly error.
- Foreign manufacturers skipping AIR appointment — an Authorised Indian Representative is required under FMCS before a foreign manufacturer's application can proceed.
- Letting surveillance and renewal lapse — an expired or surveillance-failed licence stops the ISI mark from being used, even mid-production run.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is BIS ISI certification mandatory for non-electric toys?
Yes. Every applicable part of IS 9873 relevant to a toy's materials and construction is mandatory under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 before the toy can be manufactured, imported or sold in India.
Does a toy need to comply with all 6 parts of IS 9873?
Not necessarily all 6 — a toy needs to comply with the parts relevant to its materials and construction. A hard plastic toy with no fabric or paint components, for example, may not need Part 2 (flammability) testing, but will typically need Parts 1 and 3 at minimum.
What is the difference between electric and non-electric toy certification?
Non-electric toys are certified against the relevant parts of IS 9873; toys with electrical components are certified separately under IS 15644 (Safety of Electric Toys), a distinct standard under the same overarching Toys QCO.
What does the phthalates testing under Part 9 check for?
It verifies that specific phthalate ester plasticisers, used to soften certain plastics, remain within permitted limits, given their known health concerns for children.
How long does toy certification take?
Because multiple IS 9873 parts often apply simultaneously, testing scope can be extensive; budget adequate time for comprehensive multi-part testing alongside the standard factory audit process.
What happens if a toy is sold without the correct IS 9873 certification?
It is a violation of the Toys (Quality Control) Order, exposing the manufacturer, importer or seller to enforcement action including market seizure and penalties — an area BIS monitors closely given the child-safety stakes.
⭐ Why Choose Global Approbation
- Standard mapping — we identify exactly which notified IS standard(s) apply to your product variant.
- Lab & factory-audit coordination — testing at BIS-recognised laboratories and audit readiness, managed end to end.
- AIR for foreign manufacturers — we act as your Authorised Indian Representative under FMCS and hold the India compliance interface.
- Complete documentation — quality control manuals, process charts and application filing handled for you.
- Surveillance & renewal tracking — so your ISI licence stays valid and market-sample-ready.
- One compliance partner — ISI/Scheme-I alongside CRS, BEE, WPC, TEC and EPR where your product needs them.
Non-Electric Toys BIS ISI Partner
Global Approbation manages the complete BIS ISI (Scheme-I) licensing process for non-electric toys — from IS 9873 scope mapping and lab testing to factory audit readiness, licence grant and renewal.
BIS ISI Certification Services Talk to Our Team