BIS Certification for Medical Textiles Ensures Quality and Compliance in Healthcare

The medical textile covers a wide range of items, from elastic adhesive dressing to absorbent cotton and various others. The Indian medical textile is the core part of the healthcare industry. To fulfill the various needs, whether it is for doctors, patients, or the general public, medical textiles serve a crucial role. But how are the safety and quality benchmarks of these products ensured? To ensure these benchmarks, following a specific and accurate testing method is critical.

Manufacturers are required to obtain BIS certification for medical products in this context. The Bureau of Indian Standards has included medical textile products in its compulsory registration requirements. From small to big medical textile products, everyone requires BIS certification. This comprehensive guide will explore how the BIS medical textile standard ensures quality and compliance, including the process for obtaining BIS registration online and the associated legal requirements. 

Understanding BIS Certification for Medical Textiles

In India, obtaining BIS certification for medical textiles is essential. It is mandatory to examine the safety, quality, and efficacy standards before selling in Indian markets. This is because these medical products must meet the high-quality standards for use in healthcare and personal hygiene. Meanwhile, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), which serves as the national body, sets and implements these standards. By mandating the compulsory registration, the government protects consumers from harmful medical textile products. Unregistered or substandard products can lead to adverse allergies for users.

The most recent establishment is the Quality Control Order. It was established in August 2025 and is valid till December 31, 2025. Its motive is to provide provisions for a sale period for uncertified old stock.

Why Quality and Compliance are Non-Negotiable?

The medical textile products, from simple gauze to surgical dressing gowns, come into direct contact with patients and healthcare experts. The quality of these products falls between life and death. This means certification for medical textiles is not a legal requirement but showcases a commitment to patient safety and health. In addition, the BIS mark on the products guarantees that they meet specific requirements and have been tested under stringent criteria.

BIS registration is critical because: 

  • Patient Safety First: The initial motive of the ISI mark for medical devices is to provide a safe and valuable product to patients. For the safety of users, the medical device products are tested for multiple factors such as chemical composition, biocompatibility, and sterility. These tested factors demonstrate that the product won’t be the cause of infection or any other allergic reactions.
  • Preventing Substandard Goods: For unsafe products, BIS certification serves as a barrier. This means the authority gets access and prevents the entry of low-quality and untested products. It doesn’t give access to such products in the Indian markets. Only BIS-certified products are allowed to be sold in markets with a valid license. 
  • Boosting Trust and Credibility: To gain the confidence of healthcare professionals and patients, the businesses need to align with set standards. The ISI mark on the products is the symbol of trust and guarantee. 

How Many Products Under the BIS Mandate?

The Ministry of Textiles has released a Quality Control Order (QCO) that outlines the mandatory BIS certification list in India. Consequently, for the designated list of medical products, BIS registration is obligatory. The most frequently required medical products that necessitate a license include:

S.No

Medical Textile Products 

Indian Standard (IS)

1

Specification of Elastic Adhesive Dressing 

IS 16669: 2017

2

Specifications of Medicated Paraffin Gauze Dressings

IS 16291:2014

3

Specifications of Knitted Viscose Primary Dressings

IS 16290:2014

4

Specifications of Providone Iodine Ointment-Based Knitted Dressing

IS 16466:2016

5

Specifications of Absorbent Cotton (Sterile and Non-Sterile)

IS 16468:2016

6

Specifications of Elastic Surgical Adhesive Tapes

IS 16470:2016

7

Specifications of Absorbent Cotton Ribbon Gauze

IS 16670:2017

8

Specifications of Salicylic Acid Adhesive Plaster

IS 16668:2017

9

Specifications of Permeable Nonwoven Surgical Adhesive Tape

IS 16948:2018

10

Specifications of X-ray Detectable Absorbent Cotton Gauze

IS 16950:2018

11

Specification For Handloom Cotton Lint, Absorbent, Bleached

IS 757:1971

12

Handloom Cotton Gauze, Absorbent, Non-Sterilized- Specifications

IS 758:1988

13

Handloom Cotton Bandage Cloth, Non-Sterilized- Specifications 

IS 863:1988

14

Specifications for X-ray Detectable Gauze Swabs and Laparotomy Sponges

IS 10829:1993

15

Specifications for Swabs, Small, In a Bag Of 50

IS 14316:1995

16

Crepe Bandage- Specifications 

IS 4605:1981

17

Specifications for Open Weave Bandages

IS 16469:2016

18

Specifications for Elasticated Tubular Bandages

IS 16946:2018

19

Bandage, Suspensory- Specifications 

IS 9751:1981

20

Specifications for Bandage, T-shaped, Calico

IS 14274:1995

21

Specifications for Bandage, Triangular, Calico

IS 14306:1995

22

Zinc Oxide Elastic Self-Adhesive Bandage- bandage

IS 4739:1986

23

Specifications for Elastic Bandage

IS 16111:2013

24

Specifications for Nonwoven Bandage Rolls

IS 16660:2017

25

Specifications for Orthopedic Stockinet

IS 16302:2014

26

Specifications for Cast Padding for Orthopedic Plaster

IS 16303:2014

27

Specifications for Graduated Medical Compression Stockings

IS 16467:2016

28

Specifications for Belladonna Adhesive Plaster 

IS 16671:2017

29

Specifications for Adhesive Extension Plaster

IS 16949:2018

30

Handloom Cotton Cloth for Plaster of Paris Bandages and Cut Bandage- Specifications 

IS 6237:1971

31

Zinc Oxide Self-Adhesive Plaster- Specifications

IS 4717:1980

32

Specifications for Bandage, Plaster of Paris

IS 4738:1993

33

First Aid Dressings- Specifications

IS 11163:1985

34

Specifications- Surgical Face Masks

IS 16289:2014

35

Specifications for Sanitary Napkins (second revision)

IS 5405:2019

36

Specifications for Surgical Gowns and Surgical Drapes

IS 17334:2019

37

Specifications for Adhesive Incise Drape

IS 17348:2020

38

Specifications for Shoe Covers

IS 17349:2020

39

Specifications for Abdominal Binder

IS 17350:2020

40

Specifications for Dressing, Shell Compressed

IS 17351:2020

BIS Certification Advantages for Manufacturers and Consumers

BIS Certification for medical textiles is crucial for manufacturers and consumers. It provides multiple benefits that are: 

For Manufacturers

  1. Market Access and Competitive Advantage: To legally sell the medical textile products in the Indian market, the manufacturers are required to bear the ISI mark on their products. Apart from it, it gives a competitive place in markets, enhances consumers’ confidence, and increases market share. 
  2. Enhanced Brand Reputation: The ISI mark for medical devices is a commitment to its safety and quality. It directly develops a strong and reputable image. 
  3. Reduced Business Risk: BIS certification is the way to improve textile products. It decreases the risk associated with non-compliance. 

For Consumers

  1. Guaranteed Safety: The Mark of ISI on the products guarantees to the buyers that the item they are purchasing is safe and has been vetted. 
  2. Reliable Performance: The confidence of consumers will increase more with a product that gives the expected performance. 
  3. Informed Choice: The presence of the BIS symbol on medical textile products enables consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. They can easily identify a safe product for themselves. 

Conclusion | BIS Medical Textile Quality Control Order

To manage India’s healthcare ecosystem accurately, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandates certification. BIS certification for medical devices is a tool that makes a connection between the authority, manufacturer, and consumers. In India, the BIS serves as a protective measure by approving only certified medical textile products.

With the large number of medical textile businesses established, the Ministry of Textiles issued a few quality control orders. Recently, the Textiles Ministry has released the Medical Textile (Quality Control) Order, 2024. To increase your brand credibility, BIS certification apply online now. To simplify the registration process, leverage a professional or a BIS certification consultant in India. Get in touch with LegalRaasta, which assists with medical textile registration. 

Hey there! I'm Rajni Prajapati, and I'm a bit of an SEO content nerd. For the past 5 years, I've been diving deep into the world of search algorithms and user intent to craft blog posts that are both informative and easily discoverable. I love helping businesses share their stories in a way that reaches the right audience.

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