Dharwad, Karnataka: Acting on credible information, the Hubballi branch of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) conducted enforcement raids on two warehouses operated by InstaKart Services Pvt. Ltd., the logistics arm of e-commerce giant Flipkart, in Kotur village of Dharwad district. The operation resulted in the seizure of non-ISI marked goods valued at approximately Rs 1.3 crore.
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According to an official release from BIS, the raids were conducted on Friday by a team led by Deputy Director M. Pradeep Kumar and Assistant Director Ashutosh Agrawal. The searches were part of the Bureau’s ongoing enforcement drive to ensure compliance with the BIS Act, 2016. During the inspections, the team discovered several categories of consumer goods — including air conditioners, mixer grinders, storage water heaters, sewing machines, footwear, and other items — being stored and offered for sale without the mandatory ISI mark. These products fall under items notified for compulsory certification under various Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the Government of India. A total of 427 such non-certified products were seized from the premises.
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Under the BIS Act, 2016, it is mandatory for goods notified under the compulsory certification scheme to carry the Standard Mark (ISI mark). The Act prohibits the manufacturing, storage, or sale of such goods without certification. Violations can result in penalties including imprisonment of up to two years and a minimum fine of Rs 2 lakh. In its statement, BIS urged all manufacturers, importers, and e-commerce platforms to strictly comply with the quality and safety standards mandated under the BIS framework. The agency reiterated that adherence to these standards is crucial for ensuring consumer safety and promoting fair trade practices. InstaKart Services Pvt. Ltd. has not issued an official response at the time of publishing this story.