BIS raids multiple warehouses, seizes thousands of uncertified consumer goods from major e-commerce platforms.
March 15, 2025: Centre Targets Amazon and Flipkart Over Unsafe, Non-Certified Products
In a major crackdown on the sale of unsafe and non-certified consumer products, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has conducted search and seizure operations at warehouses of Amazon and Flipkart in cities like Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi. The government confirmed that numerous products lacking mandatory BIS certification were seized as part of ongoing market surveillance.
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Massive Seizure of Non-Certified Products
- Amazon Warehouse, Lucknow (March 7):
- 215 toys and 24 hand blenders seized, all lacking BIS certification.
- Amazon Warehouse, Gurugram (February):
- 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, 7 PVC cables, 2 food mixers, and 1 speaker confiscated.
- Flipkart Warehouse, Gurugram:
- 534 stainless steel (vacuum-insulated) bottles, 134 toys, and 41 speakers seized for non-compliance.
Major Offender Identified: Techvision International Pvt Ltd
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Further investigations traced the non-certified products back to Techvision International Pvt Ltd, prompting BIS raids at two of its Delhi facilities. Authorities seized:
- 7,000 electric water heaters
- 4,000 electric food mixers
- 95 electric room heaters
- 40 gas stoves
Brands involved in the seizure include Digismart, Activa, Inalsa, Cello Swift, and Butterfly.
Legal Action Initiated
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The BIS Act, 2016 has been invoked to hold responsible entities accountable.
- Two cases have already been filed against Techvision International Pvt Ltd.
- More cases are being prepared against other offenders.
Why This Crackdown Matters
BIS is actively monitoring the market to ensure consumer products comply with mandatory safety and quality standards. During this surveillance, several e-commerce platforms—including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and BigBasket—were found selling non-certified products despite BIS certification being legally required.
Consumer Safety at Risk
The ISI mark ensures products meet safety and performance standards. However, BIS found that several products were:
- Sold without the ISI mark
- Carrying an invalid ISI number
Such uncertified products pose serious safety hazards to consumers, increasing risks of electrical failures, fire hazards, and health risks from substandard materials.
The Government’s Warning to E-Commerce Platforms
The large-scale seizures emphasize the need for Amazon, Flipkart, and other platforms to strictly enforce compliance. The Centre has urged e-commerce companies to take immediate steps to ensure that only BIS-certified products are listed for sale where certification is mandatory.
Tags:
#Amazon, #Flipkart, #BIS, #Ecommerce, #ConsumerSafety, #ProductCertification, #GovernmentRegulations, #UnsafeProducts, #Techvision, #OnlineShopping,