The Union Minister Directs BIS to Reduce Testing Fees for ‘MSME, Start Ups and Women Entrepreneurs’

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Railways and Commerce & Industry Mr. Piyush Goyal today virtually presided the 3rd Governing Council meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards. It was attended by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Mr. Rao Saheb Patil Danve, Mr. Mahesh Poddar, Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha, Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs, DG, BIS Mr. P.K. Tiwari, Chairman QCI Mr. Adil Zainulbhai and other senior officials of the Ministry and Bureau of Indian Standards.

Mr. Goyal reviewed the process of making Indian Standards and their implementation with BIS officials, senior officials from different Ministries/ Regulators etc. Wide ranging discussions were held on how standards are set and what can be done to make their implementation/ enforcement better. It was emphasized that there should be `One Nation One Standard’ and Indian Standard should be set as per global benchmarks.

While addressing the governing council meeting Mr. Piyush Goyal said that there is a need to change the approach of the country towards standardization, he said the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has given the three mantra for faster economic development i.e. SPEED, SKILL and SCALE. Now it is time to add fourth dimension of “STANDARD” in to this.

The Minister said that the standard testing fees should also be reduced in the initial years for the MSMEs, Start-Ups and for Women Entrepreneurs. This will encourage them to get their products certified and also encourage ease of doing business.

The Minister directed BIS to go in for massive expansion and modernization of testing labs so that entrepreneurs do not have to travel far to get the testing and certification of standards. He said that we have to ensure that no one has to travel far for quality check for want of testing labs.

Mr. Goyal instructed BIS to create a Customer Charter to usher in highest transparency in its certification process and inspections.

He said that products manufactured in India should be of international standards whether it is manufactured for local market or for international market. It should not be diluted to give advantage to any person or institution, whether private or government.

He said that it is a challenge for BIS to fast track the standard setting processes, especially for these programs of national priority. BIS must therefore ensure that its Technical Committees develop required new standards in the quickest possible time for products where presently none exists, or review and revise existing standards whenever required.

The Bureau of Indian Standard has already formulated various Indian Standards comparable with the International Standards such as the Electric vehicles, Fuel blends, Smart City Digital Infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Manufacturing, Technical Textiles, Aerial Ropeways, etc.

BIS is operating more than 37,000 product certification licences all over the country. 55 new products have been covered for the first time under the Product Certification Scheme since April 1, 2020. A Consumer Engagement Portal has been launched to facilitate interaction with Consumer Organizations/Groups for conducting various consumer oriented programs and activities of BIS. An upgraded version of android mobile app – BIS CARE is in place to facilitate stakeholders to verify authenticity of ISI mark, Registered Jewellers and marked electronic goods under Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). The app also facilitates users in submitting complaints.

The Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Mr. Rao Saheb Patil Danve also addressed the governing council meeting. Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Leena Nandan also shared her views in the governing council meeting.