BIS to set up five labs in 2016 to augment product testing facility

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will set up five new laboratories by next year in order to augment product testing infrastructure in the country. To ensure better compliance of standards, the ministry of consumer affairs, food & public distribution has directed BIS to set up new laboratories in a phased manner. Apart from augmenting infrastructure in the testing labs at Guwahati and Patna, five new labs would be set up by March, 2016. Based on the requirements, four new labs may be set up every year afterwards, said Ram Vilas Paswan, ministry of consumer affairs, food & public distribution ministry, after the second meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry in Guwahati on February 13, 2015.
 
In addition, under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, BIS is developing standards for solid waste management and promoting the use of available Indian standards on street food and public supply of potable drinking water. These standards will be made mandatory in phased manner.
 
At present, BIS is actively engaged in the Make in India campaign by formulating/updating standards in the identified sectors. In consultation with the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), 46 products have already been identified for this purpose. BIS is also preparing for an aggressive media plan for promotion of its brand. It will facilitate the consumers for not only getting quality products but also save them from cheating and fraud.
 
Chairing the meeting, Ram Vilas Paswan said BIS Act is being amended comprehensively for the first ever after it being enacted in the year 1986. These amendments will empower the government to bring more products under mandatory certification. While simplifying the procedure for grant of new licences, the amendments provide for harsher penalties. Misuse of ISI mark is being made a cognisable offence. For the first time, provision is being made to make distributor and retailer liable for conformity to quality standards. Product liability and power to recall products and provision of compensation to consumers is also proposed.