BIS raids Amazon and Flipkart warehouses to curb sale of non-certified products

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has recently conducted extensive search and seizure operations across several warehouses of leading e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart, in a crackdown on non-compliant goods. The raids, which took place in cities such as Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi, were aimed at tackling the distribution of substandard products sold through online marketplaces.

Among the non-certified items seized were toys, kitchen appliances, and electrical goods that lacked the mandatory BIS certification. These products, which can pose serious safety hazards, were found at Amazon warehouses in Lucknow and Gurugram, as well as a Flipkart facility in Gurugram. Some of the confiscated products included uncertified toys, hand blenders, aluminium foils, metallic water bottles, PVC cables, food mixers, and speakers.

Further investigations by BIS revealed that many of these products originated from Techvision International Pvt Ltd, a major supplier of uncertified goods. This led to raids at two of Techvision's Delhi-based facilities. The confiscated items included electric water heaters, food mixers, room heaters, and gas stoves, all missing the required BIS certification. Brands such as Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly were among those identified in the seized products.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry has emphasized that products lacking BIS certification, including those sold on platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket, may not have undergone necessary safety testing. As a result, they could pose significant risks to consumers. Legal action is being pursued against those responsible, including Techvision International Pvt Ltd, with penalties that could reach up to ten times the value of the goods and potential imprisonment of up to two years.

In response to the ongoing issue, BIS is urging consumers to use the BIS Care app, which provides essential information on products requiring BIS certification. The app allows consumers to verify the authenticity of a product's BIS certification by checking the ISI Mark and manufacturer's license number. BIS aims to empower consumers to make informed decisions and ensure that products on the market adhere to the highest safety standards.