If you manufacture, import, or sell smartphone screen protectors in India, a new government notification directly affects you. On 21 September 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an amendment making BIS certification for screen protectors compulsory across the country.
This move brings glass screen protectors under the same regulatory umbrella as other electronic accessories already covered by the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). In this post, we break down exactly what changed, who it affects, and what you need to do before the compliance deadline.
What Did the Government Actually Change?
The notification amends the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 — commonly called the CRS Order. This order lists electronic products that cannot legally be manufactured, stored, sold, or imported in India unless they carry a valid BIS registration mark.
With this amendment, a new entry (S. No. 66) has been added to the Order’s schedule:
| S. No. | Goods or Article | Indian Standard | Title of Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | Screen Protectors for Smartphones | IS 19348:2025 | Glass Screen Protector — Specification |
In simple terms: glass screen protectors for smartphones now need to meet Indian Standard IS 19348:2025 and carry BIS registration before they can be sold in India.
Why Does BIS Registration Matter?
The BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme exists to ensure that electronic and IT products sold in India meet minimum safety and quality benchmarks before reaching consumers. Products on the CRS list must be tested by a BIS-recognized lab and registered before they can legally enter the Indian market.
Without valid registration, a product cannot be:
- Manufactured for sale in India
- Stored for the purpose of sale
- Sold, either offline or online
- Imported into the country
This applies regardless of brand size — from large electronics manufacturers to small importers selling on e-commerce platforms.
Effective Date: When Does This Rule Kick In?
The notification is clear on timing. Compliance with IS 19348:2025 for screen protectors becomes mandatory from 1 April 2027.
This gives manufacturers and importers roughly six months from the notification date to:
- Get their screen protector products tested against IS 19348:2025
- Apply for and obtain BIS registration
- Update product labeling and packaging to reflect compliance
- Clear or adjust existing non-compliant inventory before the deadline
Businesses that continue selling uncertified screen protectors after 1 April 2027 risk regulatory action, including product seizure and penalties under the BIS Act, 2016.
About IS 19348:2025 — The Applicable Standard
IS 19348:2025, titled “Glass Screen Protector — Specification,” is the Indian Standard that screen protector manufacturers will need to test and certify their products against. While the notification does not detail the individual technical parameters, standards of this nature typically cover aspects such as:
- Material composition and glass quality
- Optical clarity and light transmission
- Hardness and scratch resistance
- Impact and shatter resistance
- Adhesion and installation performance
Manufacturers should obtain the full standard document from BIS to understand the exact testing parameters and essential requirements before submitting samples for certification.
Who Is Affected by This Amendment?
This change has a wide reach across the electronics accessories supply chain:
- Domestic manufacturers producing glass screen protectors in India
- Importers bringing screen protectors in from overseas, particularly from China and other manufacturing hubs
- E-commerce sellers and distributors listing screen protectors on marketplaces
- Mobile accessory retailers stocking third-party screen protectors alongside mobile phones
Even smaller accessory brands and private-label sellers will need to factor this into their product sourcing and compliance planning well before April 2027.
How to Get BIS Certification for Screen Protectors
While the detailed procedural notification for testing and registration is expected closer to the compliance date, the general BIS CRS registration process typically follows these steps:
- Sample testing — Send product samples to a BIS-recognized testing laboratory for evaluation against IS 19348:2025.
- Application submission — Apply for registration through the BIS online portal, along with test reports and required documentation.
- Factory verification — For manufacturers, BIS may conduct a factory inspection as part of the registration process.
- Grant of registration — Once approved, BIS issues a registration number that must be marked on the product and its packaging.
- Ongoing compliance — Registered products are subject to periodic market surveillance and re-testing to maintain certification.
Businesses that already hold BIS registrations for other electronic products will find the process procedurally familiar, though a fresh registration specific to IS 19348:2025 is still required for screen protectors.
Background: How the CRS Order Has Evolved
This isn’t the first update to the 2021 CRS Order. Since it was originally published in March 2021, the government has amended it more than a dozen times — adding new product categories such as various electronics and IT accessories as technology and consumer risk profiles evolved. The screen protector amendment continues this pattern of gradually widening the scope of mandatory quality certification in India’s electronics accessory market.
What Should Businesses Do Now?
With roughly six months on the clock, businesses dealing in screen protectors should treat this as a priority compliance item rather than something to address closer to the deadline. Early action typically includes:
- Auditing current screen protector SKUs against IS 19348:2025 requirements
- Engaging a BIS-recognized testing lab early, since queues can build up as deadlines approach
- Budgeting for testing, certification, and any product redesign costs
- Planning inventory sell-through for non-compliant stock before 1 April 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BIS certification mandatory for all screen protectors?
Yes, the amendment specifically applies to glass screen protectors for smartphones, which must now comply with IS 19348:2025 to be legally sold in India from 1 April 2027.
What happens if I sell screen protectors without BIS certification after the deadline?
Selling, manufacturing, storing for sale, or importing non-compliant screen protectors after 1 April 2027 would violate the CRS Order and could attract penalties under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
Does this rule apply to imported screen protectors as well?
Yes. The CRS Order applies equally to domestically manufactured and imported goods — imported screen protectors must also carry valid BIS registration.
Where can I read the official notification?
The full text is published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II–Section 3–Sub-section (ii), Notification No. 4984, S.O. 5190(E), dated 21 September 2026, available on the official e-Gazette portal and the BIS website.