Introduction to BIS
In Part 1 of the BIS Series, we discussed the historical background and functioning of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) at a macro level. Part 2 of the series delves into the comprehensive legislative framework from a bird’s-eye view.
BIS Act, 2016
BIS was established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, now repealed and replaced by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. The BIS Act, 1986, was the first-ever legislation in India to provide an elaborate legal framework for standardization and certification of products. However, the same was replaced by the new act for several reasons as listed below:
- To reaffirm BIS as the National Standards Body of India;
- To modernize the overall regulatory framework;
- To widen the scope of standardization;
- To confer upon the Central Government the power to mandate certification for certain goods, articles, processes, systems, or services;
- to introduce multiple conformity assessment schemes; and
- To strengthen enforcement mechanisms by establishing stringent penalty provisions for any contraventions mentioned under the Act.
