Product registration process slow but industry confident of meeting BIS deadline

BIS has registered only 10% of electronics, IT hardware products so far

After extending the deadlines for implementation of the Electronics and IT Goods (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) Order twice, the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has registered only 10% of the products so far.

However, even though the pace of registration is slow, the industry is hopeful that another extension may not be required.

According to a BIS official, the department has received between 225-230 product applications of which around 23 have been registered so far.

The official, who did not wish to be named, said that the department expects to fast-track the process now by adding more officers to clear the applications.

“I don't think we will need another extension.” the official said.

The order, issued last year, makes it mandatory for certain electronic products that are being sold in the Indian market to comply with certain specifications set by the BIS. These products include laptops, notebooks, tablets, desktop computers, printers and scanners among others.

Earlier this year, the government had extended the deadline for implementation of the order twice, amid industry concerns. The fresh deadline for meeting the norms is October 3, 2013.

Industry body, Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology (MAIT), is also confident that there may not be a need to further extend the deadline.

“Whatever products were to be tested, have been tested now. There is no additional stock or existing products that needs to be tested,” MAIT Executive Director Anwar Shirpurwala said.

“What we are waiting for now is the registration and we have worked out a mechanism with the BIS. Under that mechanism, the registrations are now getting expedited. So, hopefully by the first week of September, we are hoping the registrations will be done,” he added.