The Bureau of Indian Standards

CASE STUDY OF INDIAN STANDARD SYSTEM
BIS's Certification Marketing Activity was started in 1953 and the samples drawn under
the scheme were testing in any one of the large number of testing laboratories available
widely spread out in the country. The products requiring to be tested were of a wide
variety such as food products, chemicals, electrical appliances, textiles, metallurgical
products and so on. The chain of newly set up national research laboratories managed by
the various govt authorities, or by private organization available for the purpose served
the needs adequately atleast in the beginning. As the Certification Marketing Scheme
grew in number a few possible situations required consideration, such as :
• assignment of priorities, ensuring speed of testing;

• ensuring conformity to standardized test methods and regulating the precision of
test methods
• administrative measures such as proper handling of samples, ensuring
confidentiality of testing, etc
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, is
involved in the development of technical standards (popularly known as Indian
Standards), product quality and management system certifications and consumer affairs.
It resolves to be the leader in all matters concerning Standardization, Certification and
Quality. The BIS is the member of 'International Organization for Standardization' (ISO)
representing India.
In order to attain this, the Bureau strives:
• To provide efficient timely service.

• To satisfy the customers' needs for quality of goods and services.
• To work and act in such a way that each task, performed as individuals or as
corporate entity, leads to excellence and enhances the credibility and image of the
Organization.
• BIS would achieve these objectives by working in close cooperation with all
concerned organizations and by adopting appropriate management systems,
motivating and ensuring active participation of all the employees.
Purpose
During the pre independence period, standardization activity was sporadic and confined
mainly to a few Government purchasing organizations. However, immediately after
independence, economic development through coordinated utilization of resources was
called for and the government recognized the role for standardization in gearing industry
to competitive efficiency and quality production. The Indian Standards Institution (ISI)
was, therefore, set up in 1947 as a registered society, under a Government of India
resolution.
The Indian Standards Institution gave the nation the standards it needed for
nationalization, orderly industrial and commercial growth, quality production and
competitive efficiency. However, in 1986 the government recognized the need for
stregthening this National Standards Body due to fast changing socio-economic scenario
and accorded it a statutory status. Thus, came the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 1986
and on 1 April 1987, newly formed BIS took over staff assets, liabilities and functions of
erstwhile ISI. Through this change over, the Government envisaged building of the
climate of quality culture and consciousness and greater participation of consumers in
formulation and of National Standards.1 April 1987
Objective
Harmonious development of standardization, marking and quality certification
To provide new thrust to standardization and quality control
To evolve a national strategy for according recognition to standards and integrating them
with growth and development of production and exports
Functions
1. Formulation of Indian Standards for products and services by bringing together and
coordinating various interest groups like manufacturers, consumers, technical experts,
testing personnel and others interested. The standards so prepared are known as Indian
Standards (IS) and are considered as legal documents. The first Indian Standard
formulated was for the National Flag (IS 1). So far BIS has published about 18000 Indian
Standards covering various products, codes of practices, terminology, etc for various
industrial and economic sectors. The Indian Standards are used not only by the industry
but also by the Government, students, consumers and regulatory authorities. The
standards are priced publications and are available from all the offices of the Bureau.
2. Certification Schemes
• Product Certification Scheme is a scheme whereby manufacturers of products

interested in producing their products as per relevant Indian Standards are
permitted to use the Standard Mark of the Bureau (the popular ISI mark) on their
products after obtaining a licence from the Bureau. The pre-requisites for
obtaining a licence are that the manufacturer has the necessary manufacturing and
testing facility for the product and agrees to follow the quality assurance scheme
of the Bureau in addition to payment of necessary fees as stipulated. The licence
is initially granted for a period of one year which is renewable for subsequent
periods based on satisfactory operation of the scheme. The scheme is voluntary in
nature for most products. However, the government has insisted on ISI marking of
about 136 products which affect the health and safety of consumers or are
products of mass consumption like LPG Cylinders, Food Colours and Additives,
Cement, Packaged Drinking Water, etc.
• Certification for Indian Importers is a similar scheme operated for importers who
are desirous of using the standard mark (ISI Mark) on imported products. The
Government of India has also stipulated that some of the products be imported
into the country only after approval of BIS is obtained.
• Certification for Foreign Manufacturers is another scheme again operated on the

same lines whereby manufacturers located in foreign countries are permitted to
use the Standard (ISI) mark on their products.
• ECO MARK BIS grants licences to environment friendly products under this
special scheme. For obtaining the ECO Mark Certificate the products should
conform to additional requirements specified in the Indian Standards.
• IECEE & IECQ Certification BIS is a National Certifying Body (issuing and
recognizing) under the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) System
for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment (IECEE). The
product categories for which BIS has IECEE acceptance are Cables and Chords,
Capacitors as components, Low voltage high power switching equipment,
Installation of protective equipment and Electronics entertainment. BIS is also the
National Authorised Institution and the National Standards Organization under
the IEC System of Quality Assessment of Electronic Components (IECQ).
3. Management System Certifications : Under the Management System Certifications,

the Bureau operates the following four Certification Schemes:
• Quality Management System Certification (ISO 9001 Certification) : The Bureau

operates the Quality Management System Certification for organizations based on
the ISO 9001:2000 Standard published by the International Organization for
StandardizationInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO). Being a
member of ISO the standards of ISO can be adopted in-toto by the Bureau and
can be published as IS/ISO standards. Accordingly, the ISO 9000 series of
standards have been adopted and are published as the IS/ISO 9000 series of
standards. The certification is for the systems implemented by an organization and
not for the product or service provided by them. The Standard requires
implementation of systems as required by the Standard in all relevant activities
and functions within an organization that goes to satisfy the needs of customers.
The standard also requires that the organization shows continual improvement by
defining specific objectives and measuring and monitoring the same in its
activities. The certification being operated by the Bureau is accredited by the
Dutch Council of Accreditation - Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA), The HACCP
(Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) programme for the food industry which
envisages identification and control of hazards-physical, chemical or biological-
can also be covered in QMS Certification Scheme if so desired by any
organization.
• Environment Management System Certification : The certification scheme is

based on the ISO 14001 standard which as in the case of ISO 9000 standards has
been adopted as IS/ISO 14001. The thrust of the standard is ensuring that
organizations meet the legal requirements of environmental protection and has
systems whereby they control and improve upon measures that will lead to a
healthier environment.
• Information Security Management System Certification (ISMS based on ISO/IEC

27001)
• Food Safety Management System Certification (FSMS based on ISO 22000)

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What are the different certification schemes operated by BIS?

What are the functions of BIS?

CASE STUDY OF INDIAN STANDARD SYSTEM

• assignment of priorities, ensuring speed of testing;

• To provide efficient timely service.

• Product Certification Scheme is a scheme whereby manufacturers of products

• Certification for Foreign Manufacturers is another scheme again operated on the

3. Management System Certifications : Under the Management System Certifications,

• Quality Management System Certification (ISO 9001 Certification) : The Bureau

• Environment Management System Certification : The certification scheme is

• Information Security Management System Certification (ISMS based on ISO/IEC

• Food Safety Management System Certification (FSMS based on ISO 22000)

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