BIS to expand mandatory certification and strengthen compliance to standards

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is developing standards for solid waste management and promoting the use of available Indian Standards on street food and public supply of potable drinking water. These standards will be made mandatory in phased manner. The Ministry Of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has also drawn up nine action points to further strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS). The North Eastern Region has been accorded high priority by the government. Amendments to the BIS Act, strengthening and improving Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and the Ministry’s role in Make in India programme and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are under discussion. The BIS Act is also being amended comprehensively for the first ever after it being enacted in the year 1986, the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has said. These amendments will empower the government to bring more products under mandatory certification. While simplifying the procedure for grant of new licences, the amendments provide for harsher penalties. Misuse of ISI mark is being made a cognisable offence. For the first time, a provision is being made to make the distributor and retailer liable for conformity to quality standards. Product liability and power to recall products and provision of compensation to consumers is also being proposed. BIS is actively engaged in the Make in India campaign by formulating/updating standards in the identified sectors. In consultation with the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), 46 products have already been identified for this purpose. BIS is also preparing an aggressive media plan for the promotion of its brand. It will facilitate consumer access to quality products and also save them from cheating and fraud.