BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS (BIS)

 

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

The Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India is statutory body set up Bureau of India Standards Act, 1986. The Bureau is a body corporate and responsible for laying down guidelines for BIS, it comprises members representing the industry, Consumer Organizations, Science Research Institutes and Professional Bodies, Technical Institutions, Central ministries, state government members of parliament. So far over 17,000 standards have been formulated in different technology areas.

Product Certification

The product certification scheme is basically voluntary in nature and aims at quality, safety and dependability to the ultimate customer. Conformity is ensured by regular surveillance of the performance by surprise inspections and testing of samples.

Quality Management Systems Certification (ISO 9000)

BIS is a national agency authorized to operate systems certification in India. It has adopted ISO 9000 series of standards based in international criteria comparable to any other such systems being operated.

EMS Certification

With the growing concern for environment friendly industrial activity, ISO 14000 standards have been developed. BIS after adoption of these standards as national standards, has launched EMS (Environment Management System) Certification.

HACCP Certification

BIS launched HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) based quality certification scheme as per the requirements of ISO 15000.

Hallmarking of Gold Jewelry

In order protect consumers against victimization of irregular gold Hallmarking of gold jewelry was launched under BIS Act 1986.

The bureau has a chain of laboratories located in different parts of the country for conformity testing of products and samples offered by applicants for grant of license. Modernization of BIS Laboratories has also been taken up.

BIS has formulated a plan which emphasizes on:

·         Development of complementary level of standardization, namely, company standardization and association standardization.

·         Effective implementation of standards through sectoral committees, such as steel, food, textiles, information technology.

·         Automobiles and power.

·         State level committees on standardization and quality system to ensure better implementations on standards.

·         Use of India Standards in Legislation.

·         Greater interaction with public and private sector undertakings.

·         Bulk public purchased based on standards and standard market products.

·         Use of standards in education systems.

·         Intensified media campaign to create awareness.

BIS as founder member of International Organization for Standardization (ISO), continues to take part in international standardization. BIS has a set up a consumer affected Public Grievances Department at Headquarters, nominated public Grievance Officers at Regional and Branch office deal with consumer complaints against BIS services and ISI marked products. An Enforcement Department is functioning at Headquarters. Complaints on misuse of Standard Mark are investigated by the Department and appropriate legal action is taken.