Standardisation is movement, should not be stuck in islands of quality: BIS DG

Standardisation is a movement and it should not be stuck in islands of quality, said BIS Director General Surina Rajan, while addressing the inaugural session of 12th Regional Standards Conclave in Odisha.
”Standardisation is a movement, it should not be stuck in islands of quality. For standards, sustainability and smart services are the next dimension which BIS is trying to map out for future standardization and conformity assessment,” she said at the event last week.
”The BIS Act 2016 lays down the framework for Standards development and delivery in India. The products, process, the service, delivered in the country, should be of high quality and meet the expectation of both consumers and producers,” he said.
The conclave was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, Government of India, the MSME Department of the Government of Odisha, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Accreditation Board of Certification Bodies (NABCB), the Export Inspection Council (EIC), and Centre for Research in International Trade (CRIT).
Ms Rajan said that as the national standards body, BIS was committed to delivering quality assurance and standards’ solutions not just for exports but also the consumers within the country.
What is imported into the country should also be safe for Indian consumers, she said.
Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Sudhanshu Pandey said the global trade in goods is valued at USD18 trillion and Services trade is worth USD5 trillion, according to a statement issued here on Monday.
”At present India is a USD 2.6 trillion economy. To increase its share, India must vigorously follow standards. The new Consumer Act allows for product recall. It is a welcome move. Product liability law which puts greater responsibility on manufacturers now needs to be enforced. Each stakeholder has different interests, standards allow these interests to communicate and combine,” he said.
Santosh Sarangi, EIC Chairperson and Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, observed that in the changing scenario of world trade, quality infrastructure should be a thrust area. Consumers have been demanding more and more information at their disposal. Today, no one can ignore the issues of human health and safety and hence, following standards is very important.