Overview of BIS Registration for Digital Camera

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requires all digital cameras sold in India to meet positive safety and quality standards, hence BIS made BIS Registration for Digital Camera the part of the Compulsory Registration Scheme, and it's primarily based on the IS 13252: 2010 Standards. So, in case you're making plans to sell a digital camera in India, it needs to be registered with the BIS first and only after obtaining this registration can one sell digital cameras in the Indian market. A digital camera is an electronic device that captures photographs and videos and stores them digitally (on memory cards or internal storage) instead of using film. In order to meet the safety, quality and performance standards of the electronic products as per the BIS this registration was made compulsory for the digital camera. 

Basic Requisite of BIS Registration for Digital Camera

To get a BIS license, there are 4 key requirements you need to meet. Without these, you cannot even start the utility procedure.

• You Ought to be the Manufacturer: BIS licenses are issued to the enterprise that makes the product, not to importers or dealers. While an importer can act as an Authorised Indian Representative(AIR) for a foreign manufacturer and deal with the paperwork, the license itself is always given to the producer.
• Manufacturing Address: You have to provide the address of the factory where the product is made. If a producer produces the same product at multiple factory locations, each needs their own separate BIS license.
• Product: Each distinct product category requires a separate license. But if a single product class includes multiple different models, all of those models may be under a single license.
• Brand/Trademark: In case you sell the same type of product under different brand names, each brand or trademark must have its own separate BIS license.

Procedure for Obtaining BIS Registration for Digital Camera

The process for obtaining a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) registration for a digital camera in India depends on whether the manufacturer is based in India or abroad. Both the process are given below: 

Process for Foreign Producers

Given that a foreign company can't be physically present in India, it needs to appoint an Authorized Indian Representative(AIR) to act on its behalf. The method is as follows:

• Nominate an AIR: A representative ought to be appointed to handle the entire application process in India.
• Submit the Application Online: The AIR submits the initial application at the BIS portal.
• Get the Product Examined: A sample of the digital camera is sent to a BIS-recognised lab for testing to make sure it meets the desired standards.
• Submit the Complete Application: A hard copy of the application, including the test report from the lab, is submitted to the BIS office.
• Application Verification: BIS officials review the submitted files and check records.
• Grant of License: As soon as everything is verified and accepted, the BIS registration is granted.

Who can be an Authorised Indian Representative(AIR)? 

The selection of an AIR follows a selected hierarchy:

• Indian Branch Office: If the Foreign manufacturer has a department or liaison office in India, that office will automatically become the AIR.
• Indian Brand Proprietor: If there is no department office, but the brand or trademark on the digital camera is owned by way of an entity in India, that entity becomes the AIR.
• Different Entity: If neither of the above applies, every other Indian entity can be nominated to behave as the AIR.

Process for Domestic (Indian) Producers

The procedure for a producer located in India is a bit simpler because there is no need for an AIR.

• Apply Online Application: The producer submits their application through the BIS portal.
• Get the Product Examined: A sample of the product is dispatched to a BIS-authorized lab for testing.
• Submit the complete Application: A hard copy of the software and the lab's test report are submitted to the BIS office.
• Application Verification: BIS officials will evaluate the application and test reports.
• Grant of License: Upon a successful verification, the license is issued to the manufacturer.

Documents Required for BIS Registration for Digital Camera-IS 13252: 2010

To get a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) registration for a digital camera under the IS 13252:2010 standard, you need to prepare the following documents:

• CDF/CCL form: You need to fill out the Conformity Declaration Form (CDF) or Component Conformance list (CCL).
• BIS Application Form: The official application form for BIS registration ought to be completed accurately.
• Manufacturer's Enterprise License: You must provide a copy of your manufacturing unit's business license. This should be submitted in both the original language and an English translation.
• Business License Scope: A file explaining the scope of your enterprise license is required, also in both the original language and English.
• ISO Certificate: A valid ISO certificate for the manufacturer needs to be submitted.
• Product Labeling: You will need to provide details about how the product is categorised, inclusive of any markings on the device itself.
• Authorization Letter: If the person signing the application is not the head of the manufacturing unit, an authorization letter is required.
• Trademark Certificates: If the digital camera has a trademark, a copy of the trademark certificates is necessary.
• Trademark Authorization Letter: If the trademark is owned by a corporation separate from the manufacturer, an authorization letter from the trademark owner is needed.
• Indian Representative Proof (for foreign manufacturers): Foreign producers ought to provide proof of their Authorized Indian Representative's (AIR) employer registration in India.
• Photo ID: A photo identification of the legal signatory or the Authorised Indian Representative is needed.
• Technical Specifications: You have to provide a technical specification sheet or the user manual for the digital camera.

Nowadays, increasingly more people are turning to digital cameras to seize their favorite memories. Because of this growing reputation, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made it mandatory for all digital camera producers to get a BIS Registration for Digital Camera, earlier than they can promote their products in India. This requirement is a part of the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) and it was installed to protect purchasers from dangerous or fraudulent products. By requiring this license, BIS guarantees that each digital camera available on the market is reliable and secure to use.