Bicycle makers urge govt to defer mandatory use of imported reflectors

Industry questions DIPP order on use of compulsory use of an accessory sold by a monopoly in China

Bicycle manufacturers on Wednesday urged the Union Government to put a Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) order making it mandatory for them to use specific reflectors from September 1, 2016 at abeyance for at least six months.

Delegates from the Indian Bicycle Manufacturers Association (IBMA), the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturing Association (UCPMA), and Industrial Development Council, Punjab, met the Union Minister of Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday to seek his intervention in the matter.

The delegation urged the minister to stop the implementation of DIPP order till newer guidelines are framed by the government. They sought clarity on who will monitor new bicycles that are being fitted with the specific reflectors, the status of bicycles already on roads with traditional reflectors, and protocols regarding replacement of damaged reflectors, said IBMA president, R D Sharma, who led the delegation.

“Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured the delegation to help in getting the date for implementation extended for once and last time by writing to the concerned ministry of commerce and DIPP,” Sharma said.

Ludhiana is the largest bicycle cluster in India, making 90% of the country's bicycles.

Reflectors with these standards (ISO-6742, international standards) are manufactured by only one company named Satellite in China. This decision is not only creating monopoly for one Chinese company but also putting a question mark why a product which is currently not manufactured in India is being made mandatory," pointed out Charanjit Singh Vishwakarma,United Cycle and Parts Manufacturing Association (UCPMA) “Set of Ten reflectors recommended by the committee are already being used with all bicycle manufacturers, but the new specifications set by Supreme court committee are Global standard not BIS specific .

The decision only helping Chinese manufacturer. As per experts It will take at least one year to get the said manufacturing technology in India and put up new units with the said standards but implementing the above decision from 1st Sept’16 has left the bicycle manufacturers with only one alternative to import it from above Chinese company and also closure of existing MSME units.” He added. “As the current reflectors are already being manufactured in India by local industry employing lakhs of workers it is very unfair to suddenly change the standards and close existing industry. For the last almost 70 years there was no law for bicycle rider safety and this decision is highly appreciated but it should be implemented in stages without any side effects. Reflectors being manufactured in India are equally good but reflection is not from the specific angles which is in reflectors made by Chinese company. It is worth mentioning that above international standards (ISO-6742) is fixed keeping in mind the roads, lighting arrangements and weather conditions in European countries and not necessarily be suitable for Indian roads.” said Sharma.

“Therefore, IBMA requests that the order should be put at abeyance for Six months till the specific product (reflectors are manufactured in India. Simultaneously, industry should be given one year time to develop new reflectors as per (ISO-6742) so that existing industry could import technology in stead of importing finished goods from china and from next year new standard should be made mandatory,” he said.