Piyush Goyal calls for new BIS standards in Indian industry

15 Jun '23

2 min read

Union minister Piyush Goyal. Pic: Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis

Insights

Union minister Piyush Goyal urged the Indian industry to collaborate with the BIS on regulations for unregulated products.
A proposed 80 per cent reduction in testing fees for certified start-ups and micro industrial units was announced.
Furthermore, Goyal confirmed the quality control orders for 24 types of footwear will take effect from July 1, 2023.

Union minister Piyush Goyal has appealed to the Indian industry to work with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to establish guidelines for products that are currently not regulated. Once these standards are announced, the products can be included under quality control orders (QCOs) within six months. He also announced that the BIS will reduce the testing charges for the footwear products under the QCOs by 80 per cent for certified start-ups and micro industrial units.

Goyal, Union minister of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food and public distribution, and textiles, has hailed the QCOs for the leather industry as a game changer for the sector. While interacting with representatives from the Indian footwear industry in New Delhi, he said that the QCOs will enhance the brand value of Indian products, the ministry of commerce and industry said in a press release.

The minister had a dialogue with stakeholders about the implementation QCO on 24 types of footwear, set to start from July 1, 2023. He stressed that these QCOs will be fully and effectively enforced for the specified products from the planned date onwards.

However, for five standards which have been revised recently, the manufacturers making the products as per these revised specifications will be given an additional time of six months to comply with the QCOs with effect from January 1, 2024. Further, the QCOs shall come into effect for small scale industries from January 1, 2024, and for micro scale industries from July 1, 2024.

Goyal also made an important announcement that from June 19, 2023, the BIS will dedicate one hour per working day for video conferences. BIS director general Pramod Kumar Tiwari was asked to give wide publicity to this arrangement and ensure that queries or complaints are duly registered and promptly responded to.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), ministry of commerce and industry and Rajeev Singh Thakur, additional secretary (DPIIT) were also present in the meeting.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)

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