THE BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS BILL 2015

The parliament during the budget session passed The Bureau of Indian Standards Bill replacing the 30-year-old act to promote a culture of products and services through compliance with Indian Standards and preventing the misuse of standard marks.

Need for this bill

• The standards and quality of a product play an important role in consumer protection and enhancing better quality of life.
• To make our manufacturers produce better quality products to compete in the global market.

What is in the bill?

• The archaic Act of 1986 replaced – The bill to include goods, services, and systems with services being introduced for the first time under the act.
• Establishment of BIS – The bill recognizes the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as a National Body with international recognition to represent the country in multilateral and bilateral forums.
• BIS gets more power – The bill gives BIS the authority and power to withdraw sub-standard products from the market if the goods or articles do not conform to particular standards.
• Mandatory certification of certain goods – The Bill allows the central government to notify certain goods, articles, etc, which will need to compulsorily carry a standard mark. For example goods or articles necessary for a public interest, the safety of the environment, prevention of unfair trade practices, national security, etc.
• Self–certification – The bill has the provisions for the self-declarations of conformity of the Indian standards for certain categories.
• Increased business accountability – When a company commits an offense under the Bill, the persons responsible for or in charge of the company will be presumed guilty irrespective of whether the offense was committed without their knowledge, consent, or connivance.
• Penalties – The penalty for improper use of the Indian standard mark will be a fine of up to 5 lakh rupees.
• Appeals – Appeals may be made to the Director-General of the Bureau. A further appeal against the order of the Director-General may then be made to the central government.
• The bill first time introduced the concept of conformity assessment with multiple certification bodies.

Other remarkable features

• A boost for Make in India – Strengthening the cornerstones of Make in India by making the products/services with no compromise on safety, quality, and performance.
• This bill will supplement ease of doing business by limiting unnecessary field inspections and has provisions of self-declaration of conformity of the Indian Standards.
• BIS would get the legislative backing for the first time to formally represent India abroad.
• The scheme is applicable for larger industries as well as SMEs in adopting and implementing global standards, thereby creating level playing fields.
• The introduction of the concept of multiple third-party certifications can provide more cost-effective administration and the resolution of consumer grievances will be speeded up.