BIS Cracks Down on E-Commerce Warehouses for Selling Non-Certified Products

This large-scale operation is a part of the government's wider efforts to ensure that products sold in the digital marketplace meet established safety and quality standards.

In a significant enforcement action aimed at protecting Indian consumers and ensuring the integrity of product standards, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has uncovered widespread violations of mandatory certification norms by e-commerce and quick commerce platforms during financial year 2024–25. As part of its intensified market surveillance operations, BIS procured 344 product samples from various online sellers and discovered that 142 of these samples were being sold without valid BIS certification—a clear breach of the Quality Control Orders (QCOs) mandated by the Government of India.

This large-scale operation is a part of the government's wider efforts to ensure that products sold in the digital marketplace meet established safety and quality standards. The findings were disclosed in a written reply in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri B.L. Verma.

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Search and Seizure Across 22 Warehouses in 13 States and UTs

In response to the violations, search and seizure operations were carried out at 22 warehouses linked to major e-commerce platforms. These enforcement actions targeted both regular warehouses and dark stores—fulfillment hubs used for rapid delivery services—across 13 States and Union Territories, showcasing the geographic spread of non-compliance.

Breakdown of the raids by location:

• Delhi – 3 warehouses

• Haryana – 3 warehouses

• Karnataka – 3 warehouses

• Maharashtra – 3 warehouses

• Rajasthan – 2 warehouses

• Tamil Nadu – 2 warehouses

• Gujarat – 1 warehouse

• Odisha – 1 warehouse

• Telangana – 1 warehouse

• Uttar Pradesh – 1 warehouse

• Andhra Pradesh – 1 warehouse

• Uttarakhand – 1 warehouse

This multi-state enforcement sweep reflects the growing concern over unauthorized and uncertified products infiltrating India's fast-growing digital retail landscape.

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Company-Wise Breakdown of Targeted Warehouses

The violations have been traced to some of the leading players in India’s online retail ecosystem, who are now under scrutiny for non-compliance:

• Amazon – 14 warehouses

• Instakart (Flipkart’s logistics arm) – 7 warehouses

• Blinkit – 1 warehouse

The raids on dark stores, particularly those belonging to quick commerce companies, are a new dimension in enforcement, given the rapid rise of ultra-fast delivery models that often bypass traditional checks.

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Impact and Objective of BIS Enforcement

BIS, India’s national standards body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, is tasked with ensuring that goods sold to Indian consumers meet prescribed safety and quality benchmarks. The discovery of 142 uncertified products is deeply concerning, especially since these products fall under mandatory certification as per various Quality Control Orders.

The enforcement actions are aimed not only at penalizing violators but also at deterring further non-compliance, especially as e-commerce continues to dominate India’s retail sector. The presence of non-certified products raises serious questions about consumer safety, product reliability, and regulatory oversight in online retail.

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Public Awareness Through Digital and Traditional Media

To amplify the impact of enforcement and build public awareness, BIS has also launched a comprehensive publicity campaign. Updates and alerts related to enforcement actions are being shared across multiple platforms:

• Instagram: @indianstandards

• Facebook: IndianStandards

• X (formerly Twitter): @IndianStandards

In addition, the raids have been covered by mainstream print and electronic media, ensuring that both consumers and businesses are informed about the need for compliance with national quality standards.

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Government’s Ongoing Commitment to Consumer Protection

The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs has reiterated its commitment to strengthening regulatory enforcement, especially as Indian consumers increasingly depend on digital marketplaces for essential and non-essential goods. The crackdown is a warning to sellers and platforms that regulatory compliance is non-negotiable, and violations will attract penalties, seizures, and possible prosecution.

The government is also encouraging consumers to check for BIS certification marks when purchasing goods online and to report suspicious or non-compliant products.

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What Lies Ahead

Following the recent operations, it is expected that BIS will continue targeted enforcement and random sampling, especially for products under mandatory certification. Discussions are also underway regarding stricter e-commerce regulations, possibly including mandatory listing verifications and real-time certification checks before products go live on online platforms.

With India's e-commerce sector projected to reach $200 billion by 2027, ensuring the credibility of the digital supply chain is now more crucial than ever.