Proposal to give teeth to BIS

The Cabinet is likely to discuss a Consumer Affairs Ministry proposal to amend the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 1986, that will facilitate mandatory hallmarking of precious metals and make the provisions more stringent.

Hallmarking of gold is now voluntary under the BIS Act. It is mandatory for 77 items — including cement, mineral water and milk products. Officials said the proposals will also seek to empower the government to bring under the compulsory certification regime any article or process it considers necessary from the point of view of health, safety, environment and prevention of deceptive practices.

The penal provisions under the Act are proposed to be enhanced from six months and fine of Rs 50,000 to imprisonment not less than 1 year and fine of minimum Rs 200,000. The amendment moved by the Consumer Affairs Ministry also seeks to introduce registration of relevant standards as an alternative mechanism to the compulsory certification regime in order to facilitate growth of emerging sectors —IT, biotechnology and nanotechnology — and protect consumers from spurious and substandard imports, officials added.