BIS CRS for Smartphone Screen Protectors: Mandatory Registration from April 2027
Introduction
A smartphone screen protector may look like a simple accessory, but its regulatory position in India is set to change. BIS CRS for Smartphone Screen Protectors will apply from 1 April 2027, bringing screen protectors for smartphones under the compulsory registration framework of the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021.
The BIS CRS for smartphone screen protectors is therefore an important development for manufacturers, importers, brands and businesses operating in the smartphone accessory market.
On 21 September 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued S.O. 5190(E). The notification amends the 2021 Order by adding “Screen Protectors for smartphones” to its Schedule. The corresponding Indian Standard is IS 19348:2025, titled “Glass Screen Protector — Specification.”
The provisions of the 2021 Order will apply to the newly covered product from 1 April 2027. Therefore, businesses dealing with smartphone screen protectors should understand the upcoming regulatory change and its relevance to their product portfolios.
What Does the BIS CRS smartphone screen protectors Notification 2026 Say?
The BIS CRS notification 2026 was issued by MeitY through S.O. 5190(E), dated 21 September 2026.
The notification amends the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. It adds Screen Protectors for smartphones and identifies IS 19348:2025 – Glass Screen Protector — Specification as the applicable Indian Standard.
The notification also specifies the implementation date. The provisions of the 2021 Order will apply to the newly added goods from 1 April 2027.
Therefore, businesses should distinguish between the date on which the amendment was issued and the date from which the requirement becomes applicable.
This distinction is particularly relevant for manufacturers, importers and brands planning product supply in India.
BIS CRS for Smartphone Screen Protectors Under Scheme II
The BIS CRS for smartphone screen protectors brings the specified product category within the compulsory registration framework administered under BIS Scheme II.
Scheme II is the Compulsory Registration Scheme used for notified electronics and information technology goods. The addition of smartphone screen protectors therefore places the covered product within an established BIS registration framework.
For businesses, this is an important distinction. The update is not simply the introduction of a voluntary product standard. It connects the specified product category with a compulsory regulatory framework.
The notification specifically identifies Screen Protectors for smartphones and IS 19348:2025. It does not state that every smartphone accessory is automatically covered.
Therefore, companies managing multiple accessory categories should assess the regulatory position of each applicable product separately.
Understanding BIS CRS for smartphone screen protectors
BIS Scheme II provides a regulatory framework for specified electronics and information technology goods. Under this framework, notified products are linked with applicable Indian Standards and registration requirements.
The inclusion of smartphone screen protectors means businesses will need to consider the product’s relationship with the applicable standard and the compulsory registration framework.
This is especially relevant for companies with large product portfolios. A single brand may sell screen protectors alongside cases, chargers, cables and other accessories.
However, each product category can have a different regulatory position. The September 2026 amendment specifically addresses Screen Protectors for smartphones.
Understanding the applicable scheme is therefore an important part of interpreting the new regulatory development.
Understanding BIS CRS for Smartphone Screen Protectors Under IS 19348:2025
IS 19348:2025 is titled “Glass Screen Protector — Specification.” The standard is the Indian Standard reference associated with the newly added smartphone screen protector category.
Its inclusion in the compulsory registration framework gives the standard direct regulatory relevance for the covered product.
Indian Standards can provide a common technical reference for product conformity. Their importance becomes greater when a standard is connected with a compulsory certification or registration framework.
For manufacturers and businesses, this development also shows how technical standards can influence market access.
A product may already have an established design and customer base. However, regulatory requirements can still change the conditions under which it is supplied in a particular market.
Why the BIS Screen Protector Requirement 2027 Matters to Businesses
The BIS screen protector requirement 2027 introduces a new compliance consideration for the smartphone accessory sector.
Importance of BIS CRS for Smartphone Screen Protectors for Manufacturers
Manufacturers producing covered smartphone screen protectors may need to consider how the upcoming requirement relates to their existing product portfolio.
Some manufacturers also produce products for several brands and markets. In such cases, Indian regulatory requirements can become an important factor in product planning and supply discussions.
BIS CRS for Smartphone Screen Protectors: Importance for Business Planning
Importers and brand owners may also need to understand how the requirement affects products sourced from manufacturers.
Smartphone accessories often move through international supply chains. A brand may source products from overseas manufacturers and distribute them through Indian channels.
Therefore, regulatory developments can have relevance beyond the manufacturing facility itself.
Importance for Business Planning
Regulatory changes can influence decisions around product launches, sourcing, supplier discussions and market expansion.
The exact business impact will vary between companies. However, awareness of the applicable regulatory framework remains important for businesses dealing with covered products.
Why Product Certification Is More Important in International Trade
International trade involves more than manufacturing products and finding buyers. Markets can have different standards, regulations and conformity requirements.
Product certification and registration frameworks help establish expectations around applicable quality, safety and performance requirements. They can also influence how businesses plan market entry and product distribution.
For manufacturers and exporters, product certification can help to:
- Demonstrate conformity with applicable requirements
- Support regulatory market access
- Build confidence among business partners
- Reduce uncertainty around market-specific regulations
- Strengthen quality-focused business practices
India has compulsory certification and registration frameworks covering products across different sectors. The smartphone screen protector update demonstrates how regulatory requirements can also extend to products commonly viewed as accessories.
How Product Certification Can Influence Brand Trust
Building Customer Confidence
Product quality is an important factor in customer confidence. Buyers expect products to perform as described and meet relevant quality expectations.
A defined standard provides a common technical reference for applicable product requirements. This can create greater clarity for manufacturers, suppliers and other stakeholders.
Supporting Business Relationships
Compliance can also influence business-to-business relationships.
Importers, distributors and retailers may need confidence that products supplied to them meet the requirements of the markets where they are sold.
A clear understanding of applicable regulations can therefore support communication between different parties across the supply chain.
Protecting Long-Term Reputation
A consistent approach to quality and regulatory compliance can contribute to long-term business reputation.
For companies operating across several countries, understanding different regulatory systems is also part of responsible market planning.
Requirements for BIS CRS Smartphone Screen Protectors
Businesses often search for BIS certification requirements when a product enters a compulsory regulatory framework.
However, requirements can differ between product categories. The applicable Indian Standard, regulatory order and product scope need to be considered together.
For smartphone screen protectors, the September 2026 notification identifies IS 19348:2025 as the applicable Indian Standard. It also specifies that the provisions of the 2021 Order will apply from 1 April 2027.
The connection with BIS Scheme II is therefore an important part of understanding the regulatory position of the covered product.
Businesses should also distinguish the requirements for smartphone screen protectors from those applicable to other electronics and accessories.
Keeping Up With Changing Regulatory Requirements
Regulations and standards can change as industries develop.
New products can be added to compulsory frameworks, existing requirements can be amended, and implementation dates can be notified separately.
For businesses with multiple regulated products, monitoring these developments can become an important part of compliance planning.
A Regulatory Compliance Consultant may form part of a company’s wider regulatory monitoring and assessment process.
Similarly, Certification Consultancy can support businesses that manage products across different certification and conformity frameworks.
The key consideration is maintaining awareness of regulatory developments that may affect a company’s products, suppliers or target markets.
BIS CRS Registration and Market Readiness
The upcoming BIS CRS registration requirement is relevant because it establishes a defined compliance date for the newly covered product category.
The period between the September 2026 notification and April 2027 gives businesses time to understand the regulatory development and consider its relevance to their operations.
Market readiness can involve several business functions. Product teams, sourcing teams, quality teams and regulatory teams may all need visibility of changes affecting their products.
The exact response will depend on the company’s product range and operating structure.
BIS Screen Protector Requirement from 1 April 2027
The BIS screen protector requirement from 1 April 2027 is the central takeaway from the September 2026 amendment.
The notification was issued on 21 September 2026, while the provisions of the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 will apply to the newly added screen protectors from 1 April 2027.
This gives manufacturers, importers, brands and other relevant businesses a specific regulatory date to consider when reviewing their product and market planning.
The date is also significant because it separates the announcement of the regulatory change from the date on which the applicable provisions take effect.
The Role of BIS Certification Services in a Changing Market
As product categories enter compulsory frameworks, businesses may seek information about BIS certification services and the wider regulatory environment.
Certification support can involve more than understanding an individual requirement. Businesses may also need awareness of applicable standards, notifications and amendments affecting their product categories.
For companies working across several markets, regulatory planning can become more complex because each country may have its own certification system.
The smartphone screen protector update is one example of how a commonly traded consumer product can become subject to specific market requirements.
What This Means for the Smartphone Accessory Market
The new requirement represents an important development for India’s smartphone accessory sector.
Screen protectors are widely used products, but their regulatory position is becoming more clearly defined within the compulsory registration framework.
The change also demonstrates the wider importance of Indian Standards within India’s electronics and technology ecosystem.
For businesses, the development highlights the need to monitor regulatory updates even when a product has traditionally been treated as a simple accessory.
Companies operating internationally may also need to consider the Indian requirement alongside regulatory frameworks applicable in their other target markets.
Looking Ahead to April 2027
The upcoming implementation date provides the industry with a clear regulatory milestone.
Businesses dealing with smartphone screen protectors have a defined period between the notification date and the date on which the provisions become applicable.
During this period, regulatory awareness will be important for understanding the scope of the change and its potential business implications.
The development also demonstrates how India’s product compliance landscape continues to evolve across the electronics and technology sector.
For businesses reviewing the regulatory landscape, a BIS certification consultant can form part of the wider professional ecosystem supporting awareness of certification developments and their potential relevance.
Conclusion
The addition of smartphone screen protectors to India’s compulsory registration framework marks an important regulatory development for the mobile accessory market.
Through S.O. 5190(E), dated 21 September 2026, MeitY added “Screen Protectors for smartphones” to the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The corresponding Indian Standard is IS 19348:2025 – Glass Screen Protector — Specification.
The product is brought within the BIS Scheme II framework, with the provisions of the 2021 Order becoming applicable from 1 April 2027.
For manufacturers, importers and brands, the update highlights the growing importance of understanding product-specific regulatory requirements.
The upcoming requirement is therefore more than a date on the compliance calendar. It reflects the wider role of Indian Standards, BIS registration and regulatory monitoring in India’s evolving electronics market.