The Indian government has recently launched the new BIS-Care app, which allows people to check the ISI and trademarks of any product.BIS is India’s National Standard Body for the total development of standardisation, certification, and quality assurance of goods. Read the article to learn more about the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Is BIS a specific standard?
Sometimes BIS is a confusing word. The areas covered under it have different dimensions. Is it the same all over India? What are its standard categories and types?
BIS is India’s National Standard Body established under the BIS Act 2016 for the total development of standardisation, certification, and quality assurance of goods, as well as things associated with or supplementary thereby.
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Activities include standardisation, certification, hallmarking, and product testing in laboratories.
BIS collects market samples for independent testing in order to ensure the quality of ISI-marked products on the market.
Action is taken against violating firms whose products do not meet Indian standards.
BIS organises Consumer Awareness Programs to educate consumers about the quality of ISI-marked items, as well as their misuse and colourable imitations.
The revised Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016 went into effect on October 12, 2017.
Bureau of Indian Standards Act
The BIS Act allows for a variety of conformity assessment procedures, including self-declaration.
The BIS Act includes rules that make mandatory the hallmarking of precious metal items.
In addition to the BIS, the Act allows the Central Government to select any authority/agency to verify the conformance of products and services with set standards and issue certificates of conformity.
There is a provision for the repair or recall of products that do not meet the applicable Indian Standard.
The following new areas of standardisation have been identified:
The penalty for using the Indian standard mark incorrectly is a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh.
The Act also establishes penalties for the following violations: improper use of the standard mark by testing and marking centres.
The BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018, require the hallmarking of precious metals jewellery and artefacts such as gold and silver.
Now let us check on what hallmarking of pieces of jewellery is.
Hallmarking
The government has made the insertion of a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number in every piece of jewellery obligatory.
HUID, implemented by the Bureau of Indian Standards, is a six-digit alphanumeric code consisting of numbers and letters. It is provided to each item of jewellery during the hallmarking process and is unique to each piece.
For 14, 18, and 22-carat gold jewellery and artefacts, hallmarking and HUID are required.
Before purchasing any gold jewellery, the buyer should examine all three symbols.
HUID Symbol Implementation
The hallmark consists of three symbols that provide information about the jewellery piece.
The first is the BIS logo, the second represents purity and fineness, and the third is the HUID.
Jewellery is professionally stamped with the unique identification number at the Assaying & Hallmarking centre.
Purpose of HUID
HUID assigns a unique identification to each item of jewellery, permitting traceability and increasing authenticity.
Helps in addressing accusations about adulteration.
In HUID-based hallmarking, goldsmith registration is an automatic process with no human intervention.
It also aids in the prevention of malpractice by members of the trade.
Data is made private and it is a safe system that does not jeopardise data privacy or security.
HUID enables purchase traceability and financial tracking.
Problems of HUID
It takes a long time to number each item of jewellery.
Cannot be engraved in tiny parts for intricate jewellery.
It will raise consumer costs and unexpected expenditure
The number of Assaying & Hallmarking centres is very less number.
Benefits of Hallmarking
As gold is vital in Indians’ lifestyle, enforcing gold hallmarking is intended to protect consumer interests.
It provides clients with “third-party assurance” on the quality of gold jewellery.
In exploring more about different certification marks by BIS, one should also be familiar with Ecomarks.
Eco mark
Eco mark is a certification mark granted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for environmentally friendly items that meet the BIS’s standards.
The scheme was initially implemented in 1991 by a resolution. The Ministry of Environment and Forests issues it.
Eco-Marks aid in the identification of environmentally friendly products on the market. The mark is issued in approximately 16 categories, including food, medications, chemicals, electrical goods, paper, lubricating oils, packing materials, etc.
Goals of Eco Mark
It helps consumers to take environment-friendly decisions while purchasing a product.
To encourage citizens to use ecologically friendly items.
Helps to increase the quality of the environment and encourages sustainable development.
To provide an incentive for producers and importers to lessen the harmful environmental impact of their products.
To recognise and reward companies that take positive steps to decrease the negative environmental impact of their products.
Criteria for Eco Mark
The products offered for certification will be evaluated for the following major environmental impacts:
In terms of usability, processing, and disposal, they have far less pollution potential than comparable products.
They are recycled, and recyclable.
They make a significant contribution to the preservation of non-renewable resources.
The manufacturing process, including the raw material source, is considered.
The environmental impact made by the product.
Energy conservation during the manufacturing process.
The consequence and scope of waste generated during the manufacturing process.
Disposal of product and product container.
Utilization of discarded and recyclable materials.
Sustainability of the product.
Biocompatibility of the product.
The Indian government has recently launched the new BIS-Care app, which allows people to check the ISI and trademarks of any product.
Ecomark Rules, 2024
Revised Standards: The 2024 update introduces more stringent criteria for awarding the Ecomark, focusing on reducing carbon footprints, adopting eco-friendly packaging, and reducing resource consumption during manufacturing processes.
Categories: Products eligible for Ecomark certification include textiles, paints, paper, food items, cosmetics, electrical goods, and more. Each category has its own set of environmental standards.
Life Cycle Approach: A key element in the 2024 revision is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, which evaluates the environmental impact of a product from its raw material acquisition through to its disposal. Products must show minimized impact at every stage of the product’s lifecycle.
Focus on Circular Economy: The revised rules emphasize products that promote circular economy principles, encouraging reuse, recycling, and waste minimization. This is part of India’s larger push toward sustainable economic models.
Consumer Awareness: The scheme aims to create greater public awareness about sustainable products, encouraging consumers to make environmentally responsible choices.
Incentives for Manufacturers: The government has also linked Ecomark certification to certain incentives, including eligibility for green procurement by public sector agencies and potentially lower taxes or subsidies on environmentally certified products.
The 2024 revisions strengthen the Ecomark scheme’s role in promoting sustainability and reducing environmental degradation. It aligns with India’s broader environmental policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting greener products in the market.
BIS-Care app
The new BIS-Care app will allow consumers to examine and learn about the quality of ISI and hallmark quality-certified products.
This will allow people to be informed of the authenticity of products and even raise complaints about non-authentic products.
For convenience, the app is accessible in both Hindi and English. Users can use the app to view the entire Complaint Management System and execute the same operations as the BIS website.
Atheena Fatima Riyaz is an enthusiastic content creator at ClearIAS, committed to making UPSC preparation more engaging and effective.
With expertise in subjects like polity, governance, and current affairs, she crafts well-researched study materials that simplify complex topics for aspirants.
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