The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has released a new BIS product manual for furniture in January 2026, bringing a significant regulatory update for furniture manufacturers in India and abroad. This latest BIS furniture update 2026 focuses on simplifying certification procedures while maintaining essential safety and performance requirements under the applicable Indian Standards.

One of the most important changes introduced in the revised product manual is that the furniture grouping guidelines have been relaxed, offering much needed compliance relief to manufacturers. Under the updated framework, manufacturers can now cover multiple furniture models under a single licence more efficiently by testing a carefully selected lead model, reducing repetitive testing and documentation.

This move is expected to lower certification costs, shorten approval timelines, and encourage faster product launches, especially for manufacturers offering multiple design variants. The new product manual reflects BIS’s intent to improve transparency, streamline certification, and support the growing furniture manufacturing and export ecosystem while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Also Read: First BIS FMCS Certification for furniture

What Is the BIS Product Manual for Furniture?

The BIS product manual for furniture is an official guidance document issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to ensure uniform implementation of certification requirements under the applicable IS standards for furniture. It serves as a consolidated reference for manufacturers, certification bodies, and BIS officials, outlining the procedures for sampling, testing, inspection, and licensing of furniture products covered under Indian Standards.

A furniture product manual issued by BIS explains how conformity assessment should be carried out in practice. While the Indian Standards define technical and safety requirements, the product manual clarifies how those requirements are to be verified during certification, including model grouping, lead model selection, sample quantity, test equipment, and the scope of licence. This ensures consistency, transparency, and predictability in the certification process across different BIS regional offices.

BIS periodically issues or revises the product manual to reflect regulatory updates, industry feedback, and evolving manufacturing practices. Revisions may address practical challenges faced by manufacturers, introduce procedural simplifications, or align certification processes with new or amended IS standards for furniture.The January 2026 update is a clear example of this approach, where grouping guidelines have been rationalized to reduce unnecessary testing without compromising product safety.

The BIS product manual for furniture is applicable to both domestic manufacturers operating under Scheme-I (ISI mark certification) and foreign manufacturers applying through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). It applies equally to Indian factories and overseas production units supplying furniture to the Indian market, making it a critical compliance document for manufacturers, exporters, and importers planning to obtain or maintain BIS certification.

Check updated Product manual for each product in Furniture.

Document Checklist of Product-Wise Applicability Under Updated Manuals

The January 2026 revision of the BIS product manuals applies across multiple furniture categories, each governed by a specific Indian Standard. Manufacturers seeking BIS certification for furniture must identify the correct product standard to ensure accurate compliance, testing, and licensing. Below is a product-wise overview of applicability under the updated manuals, including the relaxed grouping guidelines.

Also Read: Absolute Veritas Leads First Foreign BIS Furniture Audit

Key Changes in Jan 2026 Furniture Product Manuals (Applicable Across Standards)

• In-house Laboratory Requirement Relaxed : The updated manuals clarify that manufacturers are not obligated to maintain a dedicated in-house laboratory for routine testing. Testing can be performed through BIS-recognised/ISO 17025 accredited labs, shared labs, cluster labs, or approved subcontract testing arrangements. This significantly reduces infrastructure cost and improves ease of compliance.

• Simplified Sampling Requirement : Earlier manuals required finished product samples along with additional raw material cut panels/fabric/leather pieces in many cases. The revised manuals focus mainly on finished product samples and compliance via valid test evidence for materials, reducing sampling logistics and shipment cost.

• Relaxation in Raw Material Re-testing : Raw material surface performance testing can be waived in cases where the raw materials are ISI marked or supported by valid test certificates. This reduces repetitive testing for regular suppliers and standardised material procurement.

• Revised Model Grouping Criteria (Dimensions Removed) : The earlier dimension-based grouping (±10%) has been removed in the revised manuals. Model grouping now depends on essential design and construction parameters such as structure, mechanisms, key components and performance features. This improves transparency and reduces incorrect grouping.

• Mandatory 'Most Adverse' Lead Model Selection : The revised manuals require selecting the most adverse (worst-case) lead model for testing—typically the configuration having maximum components, highest load/stress risk, and most critical design features. This strengthens safety assurance for the entire model family.

• Stronger Documentation Requirements : The updated manuals require improved documentation such as technical drawings, specifications, scope details and justification for grouping and lead model selection. Manufacturers should maintain proper QAP documentation and test arrangement declarations as per BIS requirements.

What is Quality Control Orders (QCO) for Furniture

A Quality Control Order (QCO) is a statutory regulation that mandates compliance with specified Indian Standards before products can be manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed in India. Under the furniture QCO update, covered furniture products must conform to the relevant IS standards and bear the BIS Standard Mark, confirming compliance with safety and performance requirements.

For furniture, the QCO primarily mandates certification under Scheme-I of Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. This applies to both domestic manufacturers and foreign manufacturers supplying furniture to India, subject to defined exemptions.

Also Check: BIS QCO for the Furniture

Impact on BIS Certification Cost, Timeline & Testing

The January 2026 furniture product manuals issued by BIS have introduced practical changes that directly improve the BIS certification cost for furniture, simplify BIS testing requirements for furniture, and shorten the overall furniture BIS approval timeline. The key impacts are outlined below.

Testing Scope Reduction

• Revised manuals clearly define essential safety and performance parameters for each furniture category

• Multiple furniture variants can now be grouped under a single lead model

• Full-scale testing is no longer required for every design variation

• BIS testing requirements for furniture are now limited to parameters that influence safety, strength, and durability

• Reduces repetitive lab testing while maintaining regulatory compliance

Impact on Sample Quantity and Certification Cost

• Grouping of models significantly lowers the number of physical samples required for BIS testing

• Fewer samples lead to reduced laboratory fees and logistics costs

• Particularly beneficial for large or heavy products such as beds, tables, and storage units

• Overall BIS certification cost for furniture is reduced due to minimized testing and handling expenses

Faster Endorsement for New Models

• New models falling within an approved family of models can be endorsed without full retesting

• Only limited evaluation or documentation review may be required

• Enables quicker addition of variants under an existing BIS licence

• Results in a shorter furniture BIS approval timeline and faster market entry

Need Support for BIS Furniture Certification?

Absolute Veritas provides end-to-end support for BIS Furniture Certification/Registration, including application filing, testing coordination, model grouping & lead model justification, QAP documentation, and factory audit preparation.

Contact us today for expert guidance on BIS certification, Authorized Indian Representation (AIR), FMCS compliance, and comprehensive regulatory support to ensure your products meet India’s stringent standards and gain seamless market access.

For more information please contact us at cs@absoluteveritas.com

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