India Imposes Compulsory Registration on Electronic Equipment

India has enacted mandatory compulsory registration for Electronic equipment and Information Technology Goods under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012

Compliance Answer: Mandatory Compulsory Registration for Electronic and Information Technology Goods in India

The Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012 (hereafter CRO-2012) and its successor, the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 (hereafter CRO-2021), mandate compulsory registration for specified electronic and IT goods in India. The current framework is governed by CRO-2021, which superseded CRO-2012 under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016¹. Below is a structured analysis of the regulatory requirements, timelines, and authorities involved.

Regulation Analysis

1. Legal Framework and Applicability

• CRO-2012 was the initial order notified by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under Notification No. 8(14)/2006(Vol.III) dated 7 September 2012¹. It established the requirement for compulsory registration of electronic and IT goods listed in its schedule.
• CRO-2012 was superseded by CRO-2021, notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016¹. The transition reflects a shift in regulatory authority to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• Product Coverage: The orders apply to electronic and IT goods specified in their schedules. For example, TV sets were added to the schedule of CRO-2021 under IS 18112:2022 (Digital Television Receiver for Satellite Broadcast Transmission – Specification) via S.O. 1929(E) dated 26 April 2023¹.

2. Key Requirements

• Compulsory Registration: Manufacturers, importers, and sellers of covered goods must register their products with the BIS before placing them in the Indian market¹.
• Compliance with Standards: Products must conform to the Indian Standards (IS) specified in the schedule of CRO-2021. For TV sets, this is IS 18112:2022¹.
• Self-Declaration: Registration is based on self-declaration of conformity with the applicable standards, supported by test reports from BIS-recognized laboratories¹.

3. Implementation Timeline

• Original Deadline: The compliance deadline for TV sets under S.O. 1929(E) was 26 January 2026¹.
• Extended Deadline: The implementation date was extended to 26 July 2026 via Gazette Notification S.O. 352(E) dated 22 January 2026¹. This extension applies to all product categories included in the schedule of CRO-2021.

4. Regulatory Authority

• Primary Authority: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is responsible for administering the registration process, including recognition of laboratories and enforcement of compliance¹.
• Oversight: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) retains oversight and may issue amendments or extensions to the order¹.

Summary Table of Key Requirements

Summary Answer

The Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 (CRO-2021) mandates compulsory registration for specified electronic and IT goods, including TV sets under IS 18112:2022, with compliance required by 26 July 2026¹. The order supersedes the earlier CRO-2012 and is administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016¹. The deadline for TV sets was extended from 26 January 2026 to 26 July 2026 via S.O. 352(E)¹. Manufacturers and importers must ensure their products are registered and compliant with the applicable standards before market entry.

Sources

1. ↩ Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012 has been notified by the Department of Electronics & Information Technology vide Notification No. 8(14)/2006(Vol.III) dated 7th September https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN12/IND44A17.pdf&Open=True