Update: The story has been updated with
Amazon India's comment
The Delhi branch of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, has conducted a series of raids targeting major e-commerce distributors, and seized thousands of substandard products. In a significant 15-hour-plus operation at the warehouses of Amazon Sellers Pvt Ltd, located in the Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area, Delhi, the team confiscated thousands of low products.
According to a communication by the PIB, over 3,500 items, including geysers, food mixers, and various electrical appliances have been confiscated in a raid that was conducted on March 19. The team found that a substantial quantity of products either lacked the mandatory ISI mark or had counterfeit ISI labels. The total estimated value of the seized goods is approximately Rs 70 lakh.
Amazon India's statement
"Amazon operates a marketplace in India. We require sellers who list and sell products on Amazon to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and Amazon policies. Upon being notified of any non-compliance, we take appropriate action. We are engaged closely with various stakeholders, including regulators, to provide customers with a great shopping experience,” said Amazon India spokesperson in a statement.
BIS officials also raided Flipkart subsidiary Instakart’s warehouse
In a separate raid, BIS officials targeted Instakart Services Pvt Limited, a subsidiary of Flipkart, situated in Trinagar, Delhi. This operation uncovered a stockpile of sports footwear, packaged and ready for dispatch, that failed to meet the required ISI standards and lacked proper manufacturing date information.
Approximately 590 pairs of sports footwear, with an estimated value of Rs 6 lakh, were seized during this operation.
Notably, these raids are part of a broader, nationwide initiative by the BIS to enforce compliance with quality standards and protect consumer interests. Over the past month, BIS teams have conducted similar operations in various locations across India, including Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Lucknow, and Sriperumbudur, seizing a range of substandard products.
The Bureau of Indian Standards mandates compulsory certification for 769 products, as notified by various regulatory bodies and line ministries of the Government. The manufacturing, import, distribution, sale, hire, lease, storage, or exhibition for sale of these products without a valid license or Certificate of Compliance (CoC) from BIS is strictly prohibited.
BIS seized over 3,000 items in raids in Tamil Nadu
Last week, the BIS raided warehouses of e-commerce giants Amazon and
Flipkart in Tiruvallur district, seizing large quantities of products being sold without mandatory certification.
At Amazon’s warehouse in Puduvoyal, officials confiscated 3,376 items including insulated flasks, food containers, metallic potable water bottles, ceiling fans, and toys without BIS standard marks. The seized products are valued at Rs 36 lakh.
"The violation is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh, which can go up to 10 times the value of the goods sold or displayed without the BIS mark, or both, for the first offence under Section 29 of the Act," said Chennai Branch head G Bhavani.
In a parallel operation, BIS officials raided Flipkart’s warehouse in Koduvalli and seized baby diapers (286 packs), 36 boxes of casseroles, 26 stainless steel water bottles, and 10 insulated steel bottles without BIS certification.
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