BIS Certified Teether: What IS 9873 Actually Means and Why It Matters for Your Baby

Every teether brand in India claims to be safe. BPA-free. Non-toxic. Food-grade. The labels multiply faster than you can read them — and when your 4-month-old is drooling and gnawing on anything within reach, the last thing you have time for is a materials science degree. But there is one certification that actually means something specific, is government-backed, can be independently verified, and is the correct standard for baby products sold in India. It is called BIS Certified (IS 9873) — and most Indian parents have no idea what it actually covers.

What Is BIS and Why Is IS 9873 the Standard That Matters in India?

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India's national standards body, established under the BIS Act 2016 and operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. It sets, promotes, and enforces quality and safety standards across thousands of product categories — from steel and electrical wiring to children's toys and baby products.

IS 9873 is the BIS standard specifically for toys — the full name is "Safety of Toys" — and it is aligned with the international ISO 8124 framework. For baby products that go in or near the mouth (teethers, chewable toys), IS 9873 is the legally recognised safety benchmark in India. It is not optional marketing language. Products required to carry BIS certification must submit to testing in a BIS-accredited laboratory and renew their certification through periodic surveillance.

Crucially: the BIS mark on a product is meaningless without a certificate number. The mark can be printed by anyone. The certificate number — which can be verified independently on the BIS Care app or at bis.gov.in — is the proof.

What Does IS 9873 Actually Test For?

IS 9873 is a multi-part standard, and the parts most relevant to a teether are Part 1, Part 3, and Part 9. Understanding what each covers helps you understand why BIS certification is a far more comprehensive claim than BPA-free or "non-toxic" labels.

Mechanical and Physical Safety (Part 1)

Part 1 covers the physical and mechanical hazards of a toy or teether. For teethers specifically, this evaluates whether the product can create sharp edges or points if damaged during normal or foreseeable-abuse use, whether any part can detach under reasonable force, and whether small-parts dimensions create a choking hazard. A teether that holds perfectly when new but splinters or develops sharp edges under a baby's bite force has passed no meaningful test. A one-piece moulded ring teether with no detachable parts, decorative elements, or adhesive joints is the design specification that passes this test most reliably.

Chemical Safety — Heavy Metals (Part 3)

Part 3 tests the migration of toxic elements from the material into a child's saliva. It covers eight heavy metals: antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium. These are the contaminants most likely to be present in coloured dyes, fillers, and surface treatments. A product carrying IS 9873 Part 3 certification has been tested against migration limits for all eight — not just the one or two chemicals that appear on a marketing label.

Chemical Safety — Phthalates (Part 9)

Part 9 restricts phthalates — plasticiser chemicals used to soften some materials, which are of particular concern in items designed for mouthing. A 100% food-grade silicone teether does not require phthalate plasticisers at all, but the Part 9 test independently verifies their restriction rather than relying on the manufacturer's word.

BIS (IS 9873) vs BPA-Free vs ASTM F963 vs EN71: What Is the Difference?

Indian parents evaluating teethers will encounter four different safety certifications. Here is what each actually covers:

• BIS IS 9873 (India): India's national standard. Government-mandated for toys sold in India. Covers chemical, mechanical, and physical safety. The correct and legally recognised standard for Indian parents. Certificate verifiable at bis.gov.in.
• BPA-free: A self-declared marketing claim, not a certification. Means only that bisphenol A is absent. Says nothing about phthalates, lead, other heavy metals, or any mechanical or physical safety. Extremely low bar.
• ASTM F963 (USA): The US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act toy safety standard. Tests similar hazards to IS 9873 but is a different certification, tested in different accredited facilities. A product certified to ASTM F963 is not automatically IS 9873 compliant. Relevant only when buying products manufactured for the US market.
• EN71 (Europe): The European toy safety standard. Also covers chemical, mechanical, and physical safety and aligns closely with ISO 8124, but is a separate certification from IS 9873. A CE mark with EN71 does not equal BIS IS 9873 compliance. Relevant only when buying products manufactured for the European market.

For an Indian parent buying a teether in India — on Amazon.in, Flipkart, Firstcry, or directly from a brand's website — BIS IS 9873 is the only certification that is government-supervised, domestically accredited, and independently verifiable in India. It is the one that matters.

How to Verify a BIS Certificate Yourself in Under 60 Seconds

This is the single most useful action any Indian parent can take before buying a teether. Open the BIS Care app (available free on Android and iOS from the Bureau of Indian Standards) or navigate to bis.gov.in. Enter the certificate number from the product or its packaging. The registry will show the product name, manufacturer, and certification status in real time.

If a brand does not publish their certificate number — anywhere on the product, packaging, or website — that is a significant red flag. A genuine BIS certification is something a brand should display prominently, not hide.

The Cubkins Silicone Ring Teether manufacturer BIS certificate number is CM/L - 7600198513. Verify it directly at bis.gov.in.

Why the Cubkins BIS-Certified (IS 9873) Ring Teether Is the Right Choice

The Cubkins BIS-Certified (IS 9873) Silicone Ring Teether is made from 100% food-grade silicone — no rubber, no fillers, no colourant additives that require restricted aromatic amine dyes. It is one-piece moulded with no detachable parts, no adhesive joints, and no decorative attachments that create choking or strangulation risk. Five distinct textures across the ring surface provide gum relief at different teething stages, from the first front teeth at 3–4 months to the back molar teething pressure that peaks at 10–12 months.

At Rs. 249, it is one of the most accessible premium-safety teethers available in India — and unlike products that display safety claims without verification pathways, the Cubkins IS 9873 certificate number is published and verifiable on bis.gov.in. Suitable from 3 months, dishwasher safe, steriliser safe, and refrigerator safe (do not freeze). For the day-to-day cleaning routine that keeps a teether safe through Indian monsoon humidity, see our guide on cleaning a baby teether in monsoon.

If you want to see all Cubkins BIS-certified teething products together, including the 3-in-1 Fruit Feeder, Teether & Soother, browse the Cubkins teether collection. And if you are still weighing materials, our guide on silicone vs wooden teethers explains why certification matters more than "natural".

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BIS certification for baby teethers in India?

BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification for baby teethers means the product has been tested against IS 9873, India's toy safety standard aligned with international ISO 8124. Testing covers mechanical and physical safety (Part 1 — no sharp edges, no detachable parts, choking-hazard dimensions), heavy-metal migration (Part 3), and phthalate restriction (Part 9). Only products that pass laboratory testing in a BIS-accredited facility receive the certification.

Is BIS certification the same as BPA-free?

No — BPA-free and BIS certified are completely different claims. BPA-free means only one chemical (bisphenol A) is absent; it says nothing about phthalates, heavy metals, mechanical safety, or choking risk. BIS certified (IS 9873) covers heavy-metal migration limits and phthalate restriction, plus the physical and mechanical testing that BPA-free labelling does not address at all.

How do I verify if a teether is genuinely BIS certified?

Genuine BIS certification can be verified on the BIS Care app (available on Android and iOS) or at bis.gov.in. Enter the certificate number printed on the product or its packaging. If no certificate number is provided, or if the number does not appear in the BIS registry, the certification claim is unverified. The Cubkins ring teether manufacturer certificate number is CM/L - 7600198513.

What is the difference between BIS IS 9873, ASTM F963, and EN71?

IS 9873 is India's national toy safety standard, aligned with ISO 8124 and the relevant certification for products sold in India. ASTM F963 is the US standard; EN71 is the European standard. All three test for similar hazards but are separate certifications — a product certified to EN71 is not automatically IS 9873 compliant. For Indian parents buying products in India, IS 9873 is the legally recognised standard that matters.

At what age can I give my baby a ring teether?

Most ring teethers are appropriate from 3 months onward, when teething symptoms begin and babies develop the hand-to-mouth reach reflex. The Cubkins BIS-certified (IS 9873) ring teether is recommended from 3 months. Always supervise teething sessions regardless of the product's age recommendation, and inspect the teether before every use for any surface changes, tears, or cracks.