Public auction of Radio Frequencies in India

In India many radio frequencies are still restricted by the government, but more frequency bands are being made available for commercial usage. Among the newly available offerings are 30 MHz on the 700 MHz Band which will be auctioned off publicly. 5 MHz of the 35MHz on that spectrum shall be reserved for Indian railways with the goal to improve safety and security to passengers. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has suggested administrative measures to be taken to ensure that these frequencies are not used commercially.
1.6 MHz spectrum is already assigned to Indian Railways in the 900 MHz band may also be taken back upon migration to an LTE based network to be auctioned off later. In 2018 the TRAI has already suggested to free up of 275 MHz in the 3300-3600 MHz frequency range, used for 5G communications, to be auctioned.

By world-wide standards, very little progress in the way of opening up commercially available radio frequencies has been made. Serious public discussion started around 2012 with India’s National Telecom Policy with only a handful of frequencies such as the Citizen’s Band in the 27 MHz range and the WiFi bands in the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz ranges have been made freely usable. Even commonly used frequencies such as the 433 MHz band for RFID systems still require applying for a license with the Department of Telecommunications’ Wireless Planning & Coordination Commission (WPC).
Due to these restrictions, many industries have troubles developing their products for lack of usable frequencies. This problem has been pointed out to the regulators by many companies, including global Automotive powerhouses such as Daimler, who cannot easily provide services such as radar used for onboard navigation due to Indian restrictions. While many governmental bodies in India are coming up with suggestions on how to promote “Ease of Doing Business”, little progress has been made in the actual regulations.
Many wireless devices require the WPC registration in India.
If you are interested to know if the frequencies used in your product require approval in India, don’t hesitate to contact us by email or phone. We will help you meet all your certification needs.

New opportunities for automotive suppliers in India

The new production plant went into operation in April and has already delivered 7,000 new cars. The plant has an area of 700,000 m² and at full capacity 56,000 vehicles can roll off the assembly line each year. For the Shanghai-based SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd., the Gujarat site in the West-India region is the third automobile factory abroad after Thailand and Indonesia. The construction also marks the first investment by a Chinese carmaker in India.

The MG Hector model currently manufactured in India was presented by SAIC Motors in June of this year. Potential customers were able to pre-order their vehicles via the Internet and by the end of September, three months after the start of production, more than 31,000 orders had already been received. The SUV MG Hector is equipped with the i-Smart intelligent mobility system developed by SAIC. It combines remote diagnosis, anti-theft protection, remote control of certain functions and the installation of an electronic fence, a geofencing that sends a message to the owner as soon as the vehicle leaves a predefined radius. i-Smart is integrated into the vehicle as standard and is also available as a smartphone app for Android and Apple. The MG Hector is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers a maximum of 84 kW or 114 hp and 150 Nm of torque. In addition, the basic version already includes assistance systems and safety standards at European level.
SAIC sees enormous market potential in India and already announced in 2017 that it would invest 3.275 billion yuan in automobile production and a supplier park in addition to the recently completed plant. The Halol plant of General Motors, also in Gujarat, was purchased and modernized to carry out this project. The Chinese automotive company was able to create new jobs for the local population and stimulate the local economy by locating here. More than half of the components are manufactured by local suppliers and other service providers in information technology, artificial intelligence and other innovative industries benefit from SAIC Motors’ presence in India. Foreign companies are also welcome in the newly created supplier park. Automotive components manufactured locally are subject to AIS certification. We will be happy to advise you comprehensively on the upcoming certification of your company or your products for India.
If you need assistance with your TAC Certification or have any questions, you can contact us any time. Call us directly: EU: +49-69-2713769261, UK:+44-2071931135, US: +1-773-654-2673 Or send us an email.
For more information regarding the AIS/TAC certification, please read our free information booklet “AIS/TAC – The Booklet“.
You can find further information regarding the BIS certification for electronical equipment here.
Get a FREE non-binding India Certification check for your product.

Steel imports to India must now be registered

The import of steel and iron has been subject to a new control mechanism since 5 September 2019. The Indian government introduced the so-called “Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS)”, which changes the existing free and unregulated import regulations to still free imports but with mandatory registration. Importers are now required to provide certain information for 284 product groups of iron and steel products in an online portal prior to import in order to obtain an automatically generated registration number.

Importers can enter the registration information into the system 60 days in advance, but no later than 15 days from the expected arrival of the goods in port. The validity of the registration number is 75 days. The only additional effort for the trader is the entry of the registration number and the expiry date in the import declaration. The aim of the new SIMS procedure is the prior collection of data on the import of relevant iron and steel products and to make them available to decision-makers in government and Indian domestic industry. It is hoped that this information will provide a better overview of the current market situation and enable reactions to new developments with possible measures.
India is the 15th steel-importing nation in the world. In 2018 the country imported 8.95 million tons of steel, mainly from South Korea, China and Japan. The value of imported goods amounted to 8.9 billion dollars, but this is only 1.7 percent of the total import of goods to India. The largest producers in India are Arcelor Mittal, Tata Steel and JSW Steel. According to a report by the World Steel Association, India replaced Japan as the world’s second largest steel producer in 2018. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is responsible for the standardization and quality control of iron and steel in India. Compliance with Indian standards or the labelling of products with the BIS certification mark is currently optional unless required by specific laws, rules and regulations. However, since 2016, the government has been eager to make the use of the BIS certification label mandatory in the public interest. We will be happy to advise you on any questions you may have about Indian certifications for your products.

If you need assistance with your BIS approval or have any questions, you can contact us any time. Call us directly: EU: +49-69-2713769261, UK:+44-2071931135, US: +1-773-654-2673 or send us an email.
For more information regarding the BIS certification, please read our free information booklet “BIS Certification – The Booklet“.
For more information about the WPC Registration for wireless products, please click here.

BASF launches its largest investment to date in India with partners

The chemical company BASF’s project to build a new production facility in India is making progress. In addition to the Indian conglomerate Adani, the oil company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the Austrian plastics manufacturer Borealis have now been won as partners for the realization of the billion-euro project. The planned production facility in Mundra in the Indian state of Gujarat is scheduled to start operations in 2024. The four partners are currently working on a feasibility study to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2020. If the plant can be operated economically and receives approval from the authorities, the investments will total up to four billion dollars.

In a first phase, BASF had only announced a cooperation with Adani for the construction and operation of various production facilities for acrylic and related substances. It has now been decided to expand the project and integrate additional facilities. It is considered to integrate the production of propylene based on propane to be supplied by ADNOC into the new production site. The propylene, in turn, will partly be further processed in a plant of ADNOC and Borealis. Propylene will also be the main raw material for the planned acrylic production complex of a joint venture between Adani and BASF.

The entire project would be BASF’s largest investment in India to date. It is also noteworthy that BASF intends to fully supply the site with renewable energy. Chemicals or machinery used for their production could be subject to BIS or PESO certification. The PESO certification or more precisely the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation of India registration describes the approval program for the oil and gas industry or machines that work with gases or are used in the oil industry. Inform yourself in good time and we will check for you without obligation whether your product is subject to approval.

If you need assistance with your PESO Certification or have any questions, you can contact us any time. Call us directly:
EU: +49-69-2713769261, UK:+44-2071931135, US: +1-773-654-2673
Or send us an email.

The Indian standards authority BIS publishes a series of new standards in the food sector

On the occasion of World Food Day on 16 October, the Indian standards authority BIS drew attention to the existing mandatory approval for products such as infant and baby food, milk powder, drinking water and concentrated milk. These foods require mandatory registration, and additional requirements for packaging and transport have now been issued in addition to the regulations governing production.

The more than 2150 BIS standards in the food and feed sector are based on the ISO 22000 standard regarding a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) which ensures product safety throughout the entire process chain from the field to the plate. Such a system includes the monitoring and certification of food production, catering and packaging for the food industry. Furthermore, BIS implements the ISO 22003 standard for basic regulations of authorities and institutions that carry out certifications and audits for a food safety management system.
Indian agriculture is at the first step of food production. For this purpose, a quality management system and guidelines for the cultivation of food crops have been introduced. Based on BIS Standard 16550 (Part 1), this agricultural monitoring system began in 2016 and ensures sustainable food production. As part of its implementation, BIS is also committed to the application of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP). For this purpose, an Indian standard India-GAP has been created to cover various aspects of the production, storage, handling and distribution of agricultural products in order to ensure a sustainable supply of the desired quality.
However, production in the field is only part of the process chain in the food industry. BIS is therefore now planning standards for the transport of fresh fruit, vegetables, cereals and legumes to ensure food safety. As these products usually come into contact with packaging during processing, certification will also be introduced for this sector. These requirements apply to both local producers and importers. Please contact us in good time to find out about the procedure and costs of India certification. You will find further details and free downloads on our website.
If you need assistance with your BIS approval or have any questions, you can contact us any time. Call us directly: EU: +49-69-2713769261, UK:+44-2071931135, US: +1-773-654-2673 or send us an email.
For more information regarding the BIS certification, please read our free information booklet “BIS Certification – The Booklet“.

Current legislation on drones in India

The previous law concerning a complete ban on drones was repealed last year. Since 01.12.2018, the general ban has been softened and strict conditions imposed. Drone pilots have to adhere to very complex rules while foreign tourists are still not allowed to fly drones in India because of the danger of terrorism. The import of drones is only permitted with the prior permission of the Ministry of Telecommunications (Department WPC, Wireless Planning and Coordination). Anyone importing a drone without the authorization of the authorities must expect confiscation and the drone will be detained without replacement.

In India, drones are considered as civilian, remote-controlled aircraft that require a unique identification number from the Air Traffic Regulatory Authority (DCGA). UAVs are divided into three weight classes with different requirements. For example, nano drones under 250g do not require a permit to fly inside buildings. However, most commercially available drones such as the DJI Mavic Pro fall under the category of micro drones up to a maximum of 2 kilograms for which the strict regulations apply. For each flight, the operator or pilot also requires a license to fly an unmanned aircraft (Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit, UAOP). The flight operation of a drone is only permitted in daylight and within sight, flying into a military restricted area or security area is prohibited and the local police must be informed before taking off.
The Ministry of Communications, Department WPC (Wireless Planning and Coordination) is also responsible for the commercial import of drones and supervises the WPC registration. In addition to remote controlled devices such as drones, WPC certification is mandatory for all wireless devices with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. We, the MPR International GmbH, will be pleased to support you with the WPC registration and accompany you during the entire certification process.
For a complete list of all relevant products, please click here.
If you need assistance with your WPC Certification or have any questions, you can contact us any time. Call us directly: EU: +49-69-2713769261, UK:+44-2071931135, US: +1-773-654-2673 Or send us an email.
For more information regarding the WPC certification, please read our free information booklet “WPC Certification – The Booklet“.
For more information about the TEC Certification for telecommunication products, please click here.

India reforms tax system to boost investment

While the trade dispute between the US and China continues to weaken the global economy and investors are reluctant to react, India has created facts with the surprising adoption of a comprehensive reform package and plans to boost the country’s economy massively. Analysts and economists even expect India to overtake China in terms of growth rates from 2021. In detail, the reform will reduce VAT retroactively to 1 April 2019 and relieve companies of almost 1.5 trillion Rupees annually. The basic tax rate will be reduced from 30 to 22 percent, and the effective tax rate will fall by around ten percentage points to an average of 25 percent due to local surcharges and industry differences.

In addition, young companies will receive a reduced tax rate of 15 percent for certain investments. There have also been changes on the capital market, with share buybacks now exempt from taxation. Converted to India’s gross domestic product, the package of measures adopted represents around 0.7 percent and 30 percent respectively of total tax revenue.

In the long term, the tax reform should sustainably strengthen the willingness of Indian industry to invest. Although investments grew by an average of 15 percent between 2000 and 2008, the financial and economic crisis caused a slump to 8 percent per year and the past year 2018 saw a low of seven percent. In addition to the hoped-for increase in investments as a result of the reform, further interest rate cuts by the central bank are expected as an incentive. The Indian government under President Modi is continuously working on the country’s competitiveness. India’s numerous and young population offers very good conditions for high growth rates and economic productivity. Products manufactured in India are also subject to approval by Indian certifications such as AIS (ARAI), BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO. Find out in good time whether your product requires certification in India.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769150, US: +1 773 654-2673).
You can also download our brochures about the compulsory certifications here.

Indian Ministry of Telecommunications works on permitted frequencies for 5G network

The Ministry of Telecommunications is currently working on the spectrum of permitted frequencies and the corresponding 5G devices will soon be available on the Indian market. The future frequencies will be allocated as a harmonised and coherent spectrum necessary for the deployment of next generation access technologies, the Ministry said. To operate so-called Multi-Gigabit Broadband (MBB) services in a 5G network, operators must be allocated larger and coherent frequency bands. This strategy is supported by a publication of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and endorsed in the Digital Communications Guidelines of the relevant ministry.

For the new 5G network, the Committee of the Ministry of Telecommunications proposes the auctioning of a total of 11 frequency bands, four of which would be immediately available for use. The 700 MHz band was offered at the last auction but not sold. Its 35 MHz spectrum is still available for 4G and 5G services. The 3.5 Ghz band is intended for IMT services in India. The worldwide introduction of 5G networks is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020. Successful pilot projects are already in operation and thus the timetable for India in the context of global adaptation is also on schedule.

Companies wishing to market products in the 5G sector must obtain information in good time and apply for the appropriate permission (WPC registration) for their products. In India, the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) department of the Ministry of Communications is responsible for wireless devices and broadcasting and telecommunications licensing.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information on WPC certification. In addition, we offer you a comprehensive service package within the scope of WPC registration.

A Range of New Products will be BIS Mandatory Soon

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recently published a notice explaining which products will require a mandatory BIS certification soon. The BIS is responsible for a multitude of voluntary and mandatory certifications for industry products. The most important ones are the BIS CRS Scheme for Electronics & IT Goods (BIS CRS) and the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).

So far, they have 136 products in their catalogue which require a mandatory certification and 50 products which require a mandatory registration.
The BIS certification provides a third-party guarantee of quality, safety and reliability.
The following products will require a certification in the future:

• Electric cables, plugs, sockets, switchgear
• Air conditioner, compressor, thermostat, heat exchanger
• Domestic cooker, gas stove, rubber hose for liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
• Toys
• Protective helmet
• Butterfly valves
• Transparent float glass, sheet glass and safety glass
• Prepaid energy meter, smart meter
• Chemicals: acetic acid, aniline, methanol, orthophosphoric acid etc.
• Medical devices
• Cranes (electric, overhead, gantry)
• Wheel-loader
• Retroreflector devices for bicycles
• Cotton bales

Up to this point there are few technical regulations compared to that of the EU market requirements. However, India has been in ongoing discussion forums with regulatory experts and are eager to close the gap to be more in line with the EU. It is expected that here will be more regulations published in the near future.
Here you can find more information about the AIS/TAC certification, BIS certification, WPC certification and TEC certification.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769150, US: +1 773 654-2673).
You can also download our brochures about the compulsory certifications here.

New product list for mandatory BIS certification

The mandatory BIS certification is now mandatory for a further 13 products. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the equivalent of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) or the International Standards Organization (ISO). Until now, certification according to the BIS standard was voluntary; with the announcement of the new, third product list, this is now mandatory for other products. The newly announced products include LED lighting, UPS and inverters with less than 10 kVA, televisions and monitors up to 32 inches, surveillance cameras, adapters and sockets for the household, barcode and fingerprint scanners, smartwatches.

Foreign manufacturers wishing to export their products to India require BIS certification. For some product categories this certification is still voluntary, but not for products on the so-called List 1 and 2 and the newly published third list. Foreign manufacturers seeking certification will need an authorised Indian representative to act as an intermediary between BIS and the manufacturer.
For any questions regarding the BIS certification, please contact us.
Here you can find more information about the AIS/TAC certification, BIS certification, WPC certification and TEC certification.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769150, US: +1 773 654-2673).
You can also download our brochures about the compulsory certifications here.