New Delhi, October 15 (IANS). Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should ensure that every citizen of India gets access to safe, reliable and high quality products and services.
Delivering the keynote address on ‘World Standards Day’ in the national capital, the Minister said the well-being of consumers depends on access to quality products, while the growth and profitability of the industry is directly linked to the demand for these high-quality goods.
“It is a holistic approach that recognizes the interdependence of consumers and producers, which promotes a strong quality ecosystem,” Minister Joshi told the attendees.
He emphasized on the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the country should be recognized for its best quality and India should strive to make itself synonymous with world standards.
“BIS should focus on quality as India’s economy is growing rapidly and also contributes to global trade,” the minister stressed.
He said that BIS has a huge role in enriching economic growth, enhancing the ‘Made in India’ label and establishing ‘Brand India’ globally.
The new ‘BIS Act 2016’ will further strengthen the ease of doing business and promote the ‘Make in India’ campaign.
According to the minister, more than 22,300 standards are in place and 94 percent of Indian standards are being harmonized with ISO and ISE standards. Minister Joshi informed that today 174 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) of 732 products have been notified for mandatory BIS certification, whereas till 2014 there were only 14 QCOs of 106 products.
He said, “India, currently the fifth largest economy in the world, should focus on improving standards as they serve as the backbone of the society, ensuring safety, quality and trust in product and service. We do.”
–IANS
SCH/ABM
