Bureau of Indian Standards Bill 2015 : Objectives

Bureau of Indian Standards Bill 2015 : Objectives

Question: Union Cabinet has recently given the approval for the new Bureau of Indian Standards Bill 2015. Discuss the key objectives of the new legislation.

Union Cabinet chaired by the PM has given approval for a new Bureau of Indian Standards Bill 2015.

This Bill aims to provide a legislative framework for new provisions other than those in the current Bureau of Indian Standards Act 1986 which will be repealed

• The Bureau will perform functions through a governing council comprising the President and other members

Objectives

• To set up the BIS or Bureau of Indian Standards as the National Standards Body of India

• Inclusion of goods, services and systems apart from articles and processes under the standardisation regime

• Enabling GoI to bring mandatary certifications regime such as article process or service considered vital from viewpoint of health, safety, environment, prevention of deceptive practices, establishment of peace and security and so forth

• This will assist consumers to receive ISI certified products and prevent import of below par products

• There will be multiple types of simplified conformity assessment schemes such as SDOC/ Self Declaration of Conformity against any standard to give multiple simplified options to manufacturers for standards adherence and certificate of conformity for improving the ease of doing business

• Enable the Centre to appoint any authority alongside BIS for verifying conformity of products and services to a standard and issue certificate of conformity

• Enabling GoI to implement mandatory hallmarking of precious metal articles

• Boosting penal provisions for better and more effective compliance and compounding of offence for violations

• Providing recall, including product liability of products associated with the Standard Mark yet not conforming to relevant Indian Standards

• Repeal of the BIS Act 1986

Facts and Stats

• New Bill proposed to empower Centre and BIS to promote quality products through process of “Product Certification” and “ Certificate of Conformity”
• It will also improve enforcement of Indian Standards

• Proposed provision will promote harmonious development of standardisation activities, marking and quality certification of services and goods for providing mandatory hallmarking of critical precious metal articles, increased scope of conformity assessment, enhancement of penalties and implication of provisions in the Act.