Air Cooler and Air Filters Quality Control Order Notification for Micro and Small Enterprises

Introduction to the Air Cooler and Air Filters QCO

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), regulates electrical and mechanical appliances under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, in order to ensure safety, performance efficiency, as well as environmental compliance. Air coolers and air filters are widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial ventilation systems, making conformance to quality and filtration efficiency standards all the more essential for indoor air quality and consumer safety.

In order to bring uniformity in product performance and align domestic manufacturing with internationally benchmarked filtration standards, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified a Quality Control Order for air coolers and air filters.

Key Changes You Need to Know

For this notification, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued the Air Cooler and Air Filters (Quality Control) Order, 2024, through a notification dated 05 March 2024.

The order introduces the following requirements that must be followed by businesses dealing with these products in the Indian market:

1. There should be mandatory conformance of air coolers and air filters to IS 17570 (Part 1):2021 / ISO 16890-2:2016, covering performance classification based on particulate matter efficiency (ePM).
2. The Standard Mark (ISI Mark) under a valid BIS license has to be mandatorily used on the product.
3. BIS certification has to be obtained as per Scheme-I of Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
4. The goods that are manufactured domestically for export are exempted from the provisions of this Order.
5. The Bureau of Indian Standards is designated as the certifying and enforcing authority for ensuring conformance with this Order.
6. Penal action is applicable under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, for non-compliance with the provisions of this Quality Control Order. 

What is the Date of Implementation?

• General Enterprises: As per the notification, after the expiry of the stipulated transition period from publication
• Small Enterprises: After expiry of nine months from the date of publication
• Micro Enterprises: After expiry of twelve months from the date of publication

Now, What to Do?

Manufacturers as well as importers of air coolers and air filters should evaluate product configurations against the notified filtration standards and determine the requirements of the BIS certification in order to track applicable timelines. Early conformance as well as adherence with testing laboratories and readiness for BIS inspection will be all the more important to meet compliance without affecting any supply commitments.

With 10+ years of regulatory experience, Brand Liaison offers expert consultancy, technical assistance, testing support, simplified documentation, as well as factory audit preparation. By offering in-depth industry knowledge and structured guidance, Brand Liaison helps businesses achieve BIS certification in an efficient manner while also enabling them to navigate MSME-specific exemptions as well as timelines.