Presently, over 450 products are under the ambit of mandatory certification. The key consumer products under mandatory certification include Cement, Electric iron, Electric immersion water heater, Domestic Food Mixer, Switches, Helmets, Domestic Pressure Cookers, Automotive tyres, Tubes, Packaged drinking water, LPG stoves, LPG cylinders, Toys, etc.

The key consumer electronic products under compulsory certification include Mobile phones, Laptops, TV, Power adapters, Power banks, Digital cameras, etc. Consumers must ensure that they purchase these products bearing ISI Mark.

For a number of products, compliance to Indian Standards is made compulsory by the Government of India taking into cognizance various considerations viz. public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, the safety of the environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security. For these products, the Government makes it mandatory for manufacturers to follow Indian Standards and obtain BIS certification.

According to an official release, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is committed to the quality of products and services. The Indian Standards formulated by BIS form the basis for Product Certification Schemes, which provide Third Party Assurance of the Quality of products to consumers.

BIS implements Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the Government which ensure that the notified products conform to the requirements of the relevant Indian Standard(s).

After the date of commencement of the QCO, no person can manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or exhibit for sale any product(s) covered under the QCO without a Standard Mark except under a valid certification from BIS, the release stated.

As the QCOs are equally applicable to Indian manufacturers as well as foreign manufacturers, the Indian consumers are assured of the quality of such products manufactured in India as well as imported to the country. BIS certification scheme is basically voluntary in nature.

The QCOs are issued by various Line Ministries (Regulators) under the Central Government depending upon the product(s)/ product categories being regulated through the Order, after having stakeholder consultations. Any person who contravenes the provisions of the Order shall be punishable under the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016 with imprisonment or with a fine or both.

Any exemptions like non-applicability of the Order on specific product(s), product(s) meant for export, etc. come under the purview of the Line Ministry (Regulator) who has issued the QCO. Wherever exemptions are permitted, these are clearly brought out in the respective QCO itself.

For the purpose of facilitating the Central Government in the issuance of QCOs, BIS regularly interacts with Line Ministries/ Departments and provides technical inputs related to Indian Standards, appropriate Conformity Assessment schemes, etc., and also participates in stakeholder consultation meetings.

The information on QCOs issued by the Central Government can be obtained from BIS website (www.bis.gov.in).

Image courtesy: Bureau of Indian Standards