The Role of Indian Standards in Ensuring Product Safety
In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring product safety is paramount. This has become a cornerstone of global quality control frameworks, with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) playing a pivotal role in harmonizing standards and regulating products for compliance.
The Quality Control Order (QCO)
The QCO is an integral part of the regulatory framework that ensures products meet stringent safety and quality criteria. As of now, 187 QCOs have been notified by various ministries/departments of government, covering a total of 769 products. These notifications are based on considerations such as public interest, protection of human and plant health, safety of the environment, prevention of unfair trade practices, and national security.
The Role of Indian Standards (BIS)
The Indian Standardization Institute (BIS) is the governing body for these QCOs. They play a prioritized role by continuously updating or revising their standards based on public interest, health, and environmental concerns. The BIS Act, 2016, provides the framework for this process, allowing regulators/line ministries to publish valid licenses to use their standards under the BIS guidelines.
** notifications**
These QCOs are published in exercise of the powers conferred by the BIS Act. They aim to ensure that products meet the highest standards of quality and safety, thereby reducing risks to public health and the environment. The notification process is collaborative between various ministries/Departments, ensuring that all stakeholders are involved in the decision-making process.
Introduction to ISO/IEC Standards
Alongside BIS standards, there are ISO/IEC standards being harmonized with a total of 10,300 existing ISO/IEC standards. Out of these, 9,616 have been harmonized with the existing standards, achieving approximately 93.3%. This harmonization effort highlights the global community’s commitment to standardizing products across borders, ensuring consistency and quality.
The Future of Quality Control
As the world progresses towards a more standardized and interlinked economy, the role of BIS in regulating products under QCOs becomes increasingly vital. The notifications not only enhance compliance but also drive innovation by reducing risks associated with non-compliance. For Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma, it is part of a broader narrative where quality control serves as a cornerstone for safety and progress.
Conclusion
The Quality Control Order has become an essential tool in ensuring the safety and efficacy of products across various industries. By prioritizing standardization and collaborating with regulators, BIS plays a critical role in shaping a safer, more sustainable world. As we move forward, the focus will remain on harmonizing standards and protecting human health, ensuring that product quality remains a central pillar of global governance.