News Highlight
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles extended his greetings on the occasion of the 76th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Key Takeaway
- A portal for mapping Industrial Units and Laboratories was launched on occasion today.
- Moreover, this is a centralised platform for information on industrial units and laboratories across the country.
- This will enable an analysis of test facilities in the country and help entrepreneurs access information about testing facilities.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
- History
- BIS is India’s National Standards Body, operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- In addition, it was created by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act of 1986, which became effective on December 23.
- The Department of Industries and Supplies resolution that formed the Indian Standards Institution (ISI) was passed in September 1946.
- Furthermore, according to the Societies Registration Act of 1860, the ISI was established.
- On October 12, 2017, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016 was amended.
- About
- Firstly, BIS is India’s National Standard Body, which oversees the activities of product standardisation, marking, and quality certification.
- The Minister in charge of the Ministry or Department having administrative control of the BIS is the ex-officio President of the BIS.
- Additionally, BIS’s headquarter is in New Delhi.
- BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in several ways;
- Providing safe, reliable, quality goods.
- Minimizing health hazards to consumers.
- Promoting exports and imports substitutes.
- Control over the proliferation of varieties etc., through standardisation, certification and testing.
Bureau of Indian Standards Act
- About
- Firstly, self-declaration is one of the conformity evaluation methods that the BIS Act permits.
- The BIS Act contains regulations that mandate the hallmarking of objects made of precious metals.
- The Act enables the Central Government to designate any authority or agency to check that goods and services adhere to established standards and to issue certificates of conformity in addition to the BIS.
- Furthermore, there is a provision for the repair or recall of products that do not meet the applicable Indian Standard.
- Penalties Established by the Act
- A punishment of up to Rs. 5 lakhs may be imposed for misusing the Indian standard mark.
- In addition, the Act also outlines sanctions for testing and marking centres misusing the standard mark.
Hallmarking
- About
- Firstly, the government has mandated that each piece of jewellery contain a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number.
- The Bureau of Indian Standards uses the six-digit alphanumeric code HUID, which comprises numbers and letters.
- It is given to each piece of jewellery as part of the hallmarking procedure and is particular to each item.
- Additionally, hallmarking and HUID are necessary for jewellery and artefacts of 14, 18, and 22-carat gold.
- Benefits of Hallmarking
- Gold hallmarking is enforced to safeguard consumer interests because gold is so important to Indian culture.
- Furthermore, it offers customers “third-party assurance” regarding the calibre of gold jewellery.
BIS-Care app
- Firstly, customers can view and learn more about the ISI and hallmark quality-certified products thanks to the new BIS-Care app.
- This would enable consumers to learn about product authenticity and even file complaints when they encounter fake goods.
- In addition, the app is available in both Hindi and English for your convenience.
- The app allows users to perform the same tasks as the BIS website and examine the Complaint Management System.
Pic Courtesy: Enterslice
Content Source: PIB