Question : Quality Standards

(a) the details of the mechanism available for testing the quality of ISI marked products under the existing monitoring system;

(b) the number of raids conducted on the premises of the licence-holders under the said mechanism along with the number of samples lifted during the last three years;

(c) the number of cases registered on the basis of the samples taken during the said raids along with the number of persons against whom action has been taken in this regard;

(d) the reasons for not conducting raids on premises manufacturing selling products which do not have a licence; and

(e) the reaction of the Government in this regard ?

THE MINISTER OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) : Under the product certification scheme of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), samples of ISI marked products are drawn from the manufacturing premises of BIS licensees and markets for independent testing for ascertaining their conformity to the relevant Indian Standards. These samples are tested in BIS’s own laboratories and/or BIS recognized outside laboratories.

The licensee manufacturers are also required to regularly test the product as per the Scheme of Testing and Inspection (STI) specified by BIS in their own labs or outside labs.

(b) to (e) : Raids are conducted only on premises of such manufacturers which do not have a licence and are misusing BIS Standard mark to collect evidences for prosecution in the Court of Law.


However, surprise surveillance inspections are carried out in the manufacturing premises of licence holders. During the inspection, if any deficiency is observed in the implementation of the STI or quality of the product, actions such as stop marking, non renewal and cancellation of licence are taken depending upon the severity of non- adherence to the terms and conditions of licence, as per the provisions given in The BIS Act, 1986 and The BIS (Certification) Regulations, 1988.

The details of the surprise inspections and the samples taken for the last 3 years are as follows:

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
No. of Inspections 25092 15054 13688
No. of Samples drawn/ tested 30680 21768 20573
No. of Samples failed 3583 2686 1952
Stoppage of Marking 2436 2224 707
Cancellation of licence 359 368 220

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