The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has conducted raids on warehouses operated by major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart, resulting in the seizure of thousands of uncertified consumer products, according to the consumer affairs ministry.

Key seizures from Amazon and Flipkart 

On March 7, BIS officials raided an Amazon warehouse in Lucknow, confiscating 215 toys and 24 hand blenders lacking mandatory BIS certification. A similar raid in February at Amazon’s Gurugram facility resulted in the seizure of 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, 7 PVC cables, 2 food mixers, and 1 speaker, all uncertified.

At a Flipkart warehouse in Gurugram, operated by Instakart Services Pvt Ltd, BIS seized 534 stainless steel vacuum-insulated bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers that failed to meet certification standards.

Investigations revealed connections to Techvision International Pvt Ltd, leading to raids at its Delhi facilities. Authorities seized around 7,000 electric water heaters, 4,000 electric food mixers, 95 electric room heaters, and 40 gas stoves, all without certification. Brands involved included Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly.

Legal actions and penalties 

BIS has already filed two court cases against Techvision International for violating the BIS Act, 2016, with more cases pending. Penalties start at Rs 2 lakh and can extend up to ten times the value of the non-compliant goods sold. Severe violations may result in imprisonment of up to two years.

Notices to e-commerce platforms 

BIS has issued notices to Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket, urging them to ensure only BIS-certified products are listed where certification is mandatory. Non-certified products, lacking valid ISI marks, pose safety risks due to the absence of independent third-party testing.

Meanwhile, consumers are advised to use the BIS Care App to verify product certifications and report non-compliant goods. The seizures underscore growing safety concerns as uncertified products continue to circulate online. BIS affirmed its commitment to ongoing market surveillance to protect consumer interests and enforce safety standards.

(With PTI inputs)