Key highlights
Yes. Under the Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2023, BIS certification (ISI Mark under Scheme-I) is mandatory for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties conforming to IS 17514. Manufacturers and importers must obtain a valid BIS license before commercial sale in India.
- Indian Standard: IS 17514.
- Scheme: A BIS licence to use the ISI mark (Scheme-I).
- Status: Mandatory.
- Quality Control Order: Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2024 (S.O. 4634(E)), notified on 23 October 2024.
- Licence procedure: Normal procedure (Option 1).
- Category: Medical Textiles.
Indian Standard and scheme
The Indian Standard for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties is IS 17514. Certification is under a BIS licence to use the ISI mark (Scheme-I), and is listed under Medical Textiles.
Is BIS certification mandatory?
Yes. A BIS licence to use the ISI mark (Scheme-I) is required for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties, which is covered by the Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2024 (S.O. 4634(E)) issued by the Ministry of Textiles on 23 October 2024. The product must conform to IS 17514, and cannot be manufactured, imported, sold or distributed in India without BIS certification.
The order has 4 related notifications (amendments, extensions and similar); see the order's page for each one.
Licence procedure
Licence applications follow the normal procedure (Option 1): BIS inspects the factory and draws samples for testing after the application is filed.
Testing
Samples are tested against IS 17514 in a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory.
Source: the BIS list of products under compulsory certification and the Gazette notification of the order. Confirm the current position with BIS before acting on it.
Quality Control Order for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties
The order below makes BIS certification mandatory for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties.
Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2024
- Order:
- S.O. 4634(E)
- Issued by:
- Ministry of Textiles
- Notified:
- 23 October 2024
How to Get BIS Certification for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties
Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties is certified under the Product Certification Scheme (Scheme-I, ISI mark). Licence applications are processed under the normal procedure (Option 1).
- 1
Confirm the standard and product scope
Check the Indian Standard that applies, the product variants and grades you make, and whether a Quality Control Order makes certification mandatory.
- 2
Apply on BIS Manakonline
Submit the licence application with factory, manufacturing and quality-control details and pay the application fee. Foreign manufacturers apply under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) and appoint an Authorised Indian Representative.
- 3
Factory inspection and sample testing
A BIS officer inspects the factory, checks the manufacturing and in-house testing set-up, and draws samples for testing against the Indian Standard in a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory.
- 4
Licence grant
Once the samples pass and the inspection is satisfactory, BIS grants the licence, and the product can carry the ISI mark with the licence number.
- 5
Surveillance and renewal
BIS keeps checking marked products through surveillance inspections and market samples, and the licence must be renewed before it expires.
Normal vs Simplified Procedure for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties
BIS processes ISI licence applications under one of two procedures. Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties is not on the BIS Option 2 list, so its licence follows the normal procedure (Option 1).
Normal procedure(Option 1)
Applies to Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period PantiesYou apply first; BIS then inspects the factory and draws samples for testing.
- Timeline
- Depends on the factory inspection and lab testing after you apply
- Who it applies to
- ISI products not on the BIS Option 2 list
- 1
Apply on BIS Manakonline
Submit the licence application with factory, manufacturing and quality-control details and pay the fees.
- 2
Factory inspection
A BIS officer inspects the factory and in-house testing set-up and draws samples.
- 3
Sample testing
The samples are tested against the Indian Standard in a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory.
- 4
Licence grant
BIS grants the licence once the samples pass and the inspection is satisfactory.
Simplified procedure(Option 2)
You test a sample first and apply with the test report, so BIS can decide faster.
- Timeline
- BIS aims to process the licence within 30 days
- Who it applies to
- Mandatory for products on the BIS Option 2 list (domestic manufacturers, including MSMEs)
- 1
Test a sample first
Get the product tested against the Indian Standard at a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory.
- 2
Apply with the test report
Submit the application on BIS Manakonline with the test report, factory documents and fees.
- 3
BIS review and factory verification
BIS checks the application and test report and verifies the factory.
- 4
Licence grant
BIS grants the licence, with the aim of doing so within 30 days of the application.
BIS Certification Cost and Timeline for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties
Estimated total cost
₹46K – ₹1.8L
Estimate from the CompliFind BIS cost calculator for an Indian manufacturer certifying one variant under normal processing, including 18% GST and excluding consultant fees. More variants, foreign manufacture or fast-track change the total; use the cost calculator for your case.
Estimated timeline
10–16 weeks
Time to grant of licence for an Indian manufacturer under normal processing, from the CompliFind cost calculator; it includes product testing.
Cost breakdown
Indicative, excluding GST| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Government Fee (BIS) | ₹9K – ₹16K |
| Testing Fee | ₹15K – ₹60K |
| Marking Fee (Annual) | ₹15K – ₹75K |
| GST (18%) | ₹7K – ₹27.2K |
Calculate the cost for your case
Government fee, testing, marking fee and timeline for Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties, by applicant type, number of models and urgency.
Documents Required
What BIS asks for when certifying Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties.
- Factory registration and address proof
- Manufacturing process flow chart
- List of manufacturing machinery and in-house test equipment
- Quality control plan and test records
- Trademark or brand registration
- Authorised Indian Representative documents (foreign manufacturers)
Testing Labs for IS 17514
BIS tests samples of Reusable Sanitary pad/ Sanitary Napkin/ Period Panties against IS 17514 in its own or a BIS-recognised laboratory.
Find BIS-recognised labsOfficial Sources
- Gazette Notification: Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2023· Bureau of Indian Standards / Gazette of India
- Gazette notification S.O. 4634(E)· Gazette of India
- Bureau of Indian Standards· BIS
- BIS Manakonline (licence applications)· BIS
Compiled from official BIS and Gazette sources and last reviewed in October 2026. Standards and orders are amended from time to time; confirm the current requirement with BIS before you apply.
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