A new Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016 which was notified on March 22, 2016 has been brought into force with effect from October 12, 2017.
Background Information:
- In March 2016, Parliament had passed the law to replace the erstwhile BIS Act, 1986.
- However, the new act has been brought to effect now as the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry (Parent body of BIS) recently finalised the rules for the new act.
Salient Features of Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016:
As per this act, any goods/article/product of any scheduled industry and any process/system/service can be brought under compulsory certification regime by the government if it considers it necessary in the public interest or for the protection of human, animal, plant health, environment, or in order to prevent unfair trade practices and in the interest of national security.
- Hallmarking of the precious metal articles has been made mandatory under this new act.
- The Act empowers the Central Government to appoint any authority/agency, in addition to the BIS, to verify the conformity of products and services to a standard and issue certificate of conformity.
- There is also a provision of invoking ‘repair or recall’ of products that bear Standard Mark but do not conform to the relevant Indian Standard.
- It is expected that the provisions of this act will enhance ease of doing business in India, will give a boost to Make In India campaign and will ensure availability of quality products and services to the consumers.
About Bureau of Indian standards (BIS)
Bureau of Indian Standards (formerly the Indian Standards Institution – ISI) is a national standards body functioning under the aegis of Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
- It was established in 1986. Headquarters of BIS is located in New Delhi.
- Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, is the ex-officio President of the BIS.
- Surina Rajan is the current Director General of BIS.
- BIS is a founder member of International Organisation for Standardization (ISO).
