FAQs

1.      What regulatory approvals are required to be taken before selling my products in India?

India has implemented strict but reasonable regulations for various kinds of products. The primary aim of most Indian regulations is to ensure the safety of end-users, minimize environmental damage, protect the security, ensure compatibility and assure quality.

Accordingly, various types of products require different kinds of approvals from the requisite authority appointed by the Government of India. 

A few examples are as under:

a.      Telecom Products: TEC ( Telecom and EMC)

b.      Wireless Products: WPC (Wireless)

c.      Safety of IT, Electrical and Electronic gadgets: BIS ( Safety)

d.      Gadgets used in a hazardous environment : PESO (explosive)

e.      Automotive: ARAI / ICAT (AIS-004, AIS-0076, AIS-140)

f.       Energy efficiency of IT, Electrical and Electronic gadgets: BEE (Star rating)

Each of the above bodies has issued official notifications in respect of the actual products that require mandatory approvals.  Some kinds of product may need multiple approvals.

2.      Does Sunren provide end-to-end approval services for regulatory approvals?

Sunren is a NABL accredited test lab, designated by TEC and BIS for EMC, Telecom, Safety, and wireless testing.

Sunren often is engaged by several Government bodies (for example RDSO -Indian Railways,  Department of Prisons, etc.) for availing special test services of electronic devices used by them.

Sunren only provides testing services;  All information and guidance in respect of all regulatory matters , if required , is provided at no extra cost.

Sunren does NOT provide end-to-end services for regulatory approvals in India.

3.      How does Sunren ensure the confidentiality of its customers’ products?

Sunren LAB follows the strictest code of ethics and has restricted entry to all its lab rooms with biometric systems in place. Under no circumstances is any visitor allowed entry to look at any ongoing testing work.

Sunren also has a special lab room with separate entry , for performing those tests for which customers’ engineers desire to be present for testing.  All the required test instruments are physically moved from the main lab to the special lab room in such cases.

4.      If I am a foreign manufacturer, do I need to have an office in India for obtaining approvals? Can I appoint a 3rd party Indian company as my local representative?

Having an Indian subsidiary / Branch Office / Liaison office is not compulsory for a Foreign manufacturer. However, it is preferred and considered favorably by all regulators, as it indicates a higher level of seriousness from the foreign manufacturer. 

In absence of any local presence, a local 3rd party entity is allowed to act as the “Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) by the foreign manufacturer.

However, in recent times, many regulators have objected to 3rd party AIRs, as they are considered as “non-interested party”  from the products’  business point of view because after all, they are a local rep. only in name and have no involvement other than getting the required regulatory approval of the manufacturer.

A proper local Indian subsidiary / Branch Office of the foreign manufacturer is always preferred by the Government authorities. Accordingly, most reputed world-class brands and manufacturers have a strong presence in India.