BIS Scheme X Certification for Packing Machinery

Packaging machines are essential to industries in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, consumer goods, and logistics sectors. These are the machines ensuring the proper, safe and quality packing of the products.

To ensure safety, reliability & profitability, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) has made BIS Scheme X Certification for Packing Machinery compulsory. This certification is provided to guarantee that all the packing machinery whether it is sold in India or it is imported into India, is in compliance with national quality standards in force.

In this blog, we describe the significance of Scheme X certification for Packing Machinery, Role of OTR for Packing Machinery and the process for obtaining a BIS License and the BIS Standard Mark for Packing Machinery.

Why BIS Certification for Packing Machinery Matters

Packaging machinery is employed in all businesses for the following:

• Food and Beverage packaging
• Drills Medicines and medical products
• Packaging used in chemical and industrial industries
• Consumer and retail products
• Packaging solutions for the export market

In the absence of BIS for Packing Machinery: Products not certified by BIS may lead to:

• Failures in packaging, product integrity and contamination
• Safety hazards in food and pharma segments.
• Inefficient operation and downtime
• Failure to follow the government buying rules

The BIS mark on Packing Machinery assures the buyer of its Quality, Safety and long life.

What is X-Scheme Certification for Packaging Machinery?

Packing Machinery is part II of Scheme X certification, under BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations 2018 and compliance with this is mandatory for Indian as well as foreign manufacturers.

Salient Features of BIS Scheme X Certification for Packing Machinery:

• Suitable for any packing machine (manual, semi-automatic & automatic)
• Need to test products, auditors for factories and control quality.
• Compulsory for sales and imports in India
• Grants permission to use the BIS mark for Packing Machinery on certified equipment

OTR for Packing Machines

The compliance framework for the manufacturer is prescribed under the Omnibus Technical Regulation (OTR) for Packing Machinery, issued by the Ministry of Heavy Industries in 2024.

Deadline: All packing machinery shall be covered with BIS Scheme X Certificate and all packing machinery shall get BIS License for Packing Machinery by 01.09.2026. The packaging machine that is not certified, on and from 1st September 2026, cannot be made, sold and imported in India.

Advantages of BIS Scheme X for Packing Machinery

• Safety & Hygiene: Packing machinery that is certified also avoids contamination problems (food and pharma).
• Quality Assurance: Keeps machines running smoothly and efficiently.
• Market Advantage: A BIS Packaging Machineries License is a commonly required licensing requirement for government tenders.
• Consumer Trust: The BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) mark for Packing Machinery reflects quality & ensures a level of credibility.
• Global Market Access: Foreign brands have easy access to India's regulated market through product registration.

Types of Packing Machinery under Scheme X

The BIS Scheme X Certification for Packing Machinery covers a wide variety of packaging machines.

• Food and beverage packing machines
• Blister and strip packaging machines for pharma
• Wrapping, sealing, and filling machines
• Cartoning and labeling machines
• Vacuum and shrink packaging systems
• Bulk and industrial packaging machinery

Each kind of packaging machinery shall meet the requirements of the appropriate Indian Standards (IS codes) including IS 16819 :2018/ISO 12100 : 2010 Safety of Machinery General Principles for Design- Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction).

Machine type should meet appropriate Indian Standards for performance, safety, cleanliness and efficiency.

Process for BIS License for Packing Machine

• Identify Applicable Standards: Identify suitable IS codes for your class of packing machinery.
• Testing at BIS-Recognized Labs: Compulsory performance, hygiene and safety tests.
• Factory Inspection: BIS personnel perform manufacturing site audits in person.
• Application & Documentation: Uploading of test reports, tech specs and quality manuals.
• Issue of BIS Licence on Packing Machines: Can be used henceforth after obtaining the approval for Packing Machinery after leaving the factory premises.
• Ongoing Compliance: Throughout random BIS checks and monitoring process along with checking samples of products from shelves maintain consistency round the clock.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

If you do not meet the OTR for Packing Machinery and are not certified by 1st September 2026:

• Prohibition on manufacture/import of non-certified equipment
• Severe fines, product confiscation
• Barred from PSU projects and public tenders
• Sustained brand disrepute and loss of credibility

Conclusion

The BIS Scheme X Certification of Packing Machinery under OTR for Packing Machinery (2024) is a key initiative towards safety and quality standardization in the country's industrial packaging space.

Importers/exporters and manufacturers are already benefiting from BIS License for packing Machinery and BIS marking as a strategic tool which markets access and trustworthiness and helps them to stand up in a hyper regulated market.