BIS to crackdown on misuse of 'ISI' mark

It is to outsource intelligence gathering and investigation tasks in UP and Uttarakhand.

Staff crunch and rising incidence of misuse of its certification have forced the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to outsource intelligence gathering and investigation tasks in Uttar Pradesh and in some districts of neighbouring Uttarakhand.

The basic aim of the activity is to strengthen its drive against the misuse of the hallowed BIS Standard Mark ‘ISI’, follow up investigation and assistance in raids in the markets or factories.

“Since, BIS does not have dedicated manpower for the purpose, the misuse of the ISI mark is also increasing. Therefore, the Bureau has decided to seek help of outside agencies, who would qualify on the basis of their technical and financial bids,” BIS Director and Head (Lucknow) R K Sharma told Business Standard.

The BIS offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) had followed the outsourcing model in the recent past, which had proved to be quite successful, he informed. “We will try to replicate the model in UP, which is home to a large number of small-scale industries and units.”

Meanwhile, the BIS has already invited bids from interested parties in all the districts of UP and some districts of Uttarakhand. Sharma said the selected agencies would be allotted a certain geographical area as their jurisdiction.

“Among other criteria, the agency should have an annual turnover of at least Rs 20 lakh in the last three financial years,” he added.

Besides, interested parties should have adequate infrastructure and manpower in the field of technical, legal and investigation at the respective location.

“The compensation for the outsourced agencies would depend upon the submission of correct information about an erring firm and a successful raid at its premises,” Sharma said.

BIS is an autonomous body under the union ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution and its primary functions include standardisation and quality certification of products/services.

Formed under the BIS Act, 1986, BIS lacks teeth in the absence of regulatory and enforcement powers.