1. BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

1.1 The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, is a statutory body set up under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. The Bureau is a body corporate and responsible for formulating National Standards. It comprises of members representing the Industry, Consumer Organizations, Scientific & Research Institutes and Professional Bodies, Technical Institutions, Central ministries, State Governments and Members of Parliament.

2. STANDARDS FORMULATION

2.1 Indian Standards are formulated keeping in view national priorities, programmes for industrial development, technological needs, export promotion, consumer welfare, health, safety, etc. So far over 17000 standards have been formulated in different technology areas.

3. CERTIFICATION

3.1 Product Certification - The product certification scheme is basically voluntary in nature and aims at providing quality, safety and dependability to the ultimate customer. Conformity is ensured by regular surveillance visits of the units Performance of licensee is monitored by surprise inspections and testing of samples, drawn both from the factory and the market.

3.2 ECO MARK - The Government of India had instituted a scheme in February 1991 known as ECO mark Scheme for labeling environment friendly products. This scheme is administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

3.2 ECO MARK - The Government of India had instituted a scheme in February 1991 known as ECO mark Scheme for labeling environment friendly products. This scheme is administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

3.3 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CERTIFICATION (ISO 9000) - BIS is a national agency authorized to operate Quality Systems Certification in India. It has adopted ISO 9000 series of standards as IS 9000 series Indian Standards, and aligned the procedure for operation of Quality Systems Certification, based on international criteria and is comparable to any other such systems being operated.

3.4 EMS Certification - With the growing concern for environment friendly industrial activity, ISO 14000 series of standards have been developed. BIS, after adoption of these standards as national standards, has launched Environment Management System (EMS) Certification (IS / ISO : 14001).

3.5 HACCP Certification - BIS launched HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) based Quality System Certification Scheme as per the requirements of IS 15000 : 1998 standard (equivalent to Codex ALINORM 97 / 13A).

3.6 HALLMARKING OF GOLD JEWELLERY - In order to protect consumers against victimization of irregular gold quality.Hallmarking of gold jewellery was launched under BIS Act, 1986. This scheme is voluntary in nature..3 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CERTIFICATION (ISO 9000) - BIS is a national agency authorized to operate Quality Systems Certification in India. It has adopted ISO 9000 series of standards as IS 9000 series Indian Standards, and aligned the procedure for operation of Quality Systems Certification, based on international criteria and is comparable to any other such systems being operated.

3.4 EMS Certification - With the growing concern for environment friendly industrial activity, ISO 14000 series of standards have been developed. BIS, after adoption of these standards as national standards, has launched Environment Management System (EMS) Certification (IS / ISO : 14001).

3.5 HACCP Certification - BIS launched HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) based Quality System Certification Scheme as per the requirements of IS 15000 : 1998 standard (equivalent to Codex ALINORM 97 / 13A).

3.6 HALLMARKING OF GOLD JEWELLERY - In order to protect consumers against victimization of irregular gold quality.Hallmarking of gold jewellery was launched under BIS Act, 1986. This scheme is voluntary in nature.

4. LABORATORY TESTING, CALIBRATION AND MANAGEMENT 4.1 The Bureau has a chain of laboratories located in different parts of the country for conformity testing of certified products and samples offered by applicants for grant of licence which is an essential feature of BIS Certification System. Modernization of BIS Laboratories has also been taken up.

5. STANDARDS PROMOTION 5.1 For a wider adoption of Indian Standards by the industry, organized purchaser, statutory bodies and universities, BIS has formulated a plan which emphasizes on :
- Development of complementary level of standardizaton, namely, company standardization and association level standardization - Effective implementation of standards through sectoral committees, such as, steel, food, textiles, information technology, automotives and power.
- State Level Committees on Standardization and Quality Systems to ensure better implementation of Indian Standards.
- Use of Indian Standards in legislation
- Greater interaction with public and private sector undertakings
- Bulk public purchases based on standards and standard marked products
- Use of standards in education systems
- Intensified media campaign to create awareness

6. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 6.1 BIS as a founder member of International organization for Standardization (ISO) continues to take an active part in international standardization. BIS is also actively involved in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and has participation status or observer status on all the important Technical Committees.

7. NATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE 7.1 To provide training in the field of standardization, quality control, quality management system, environmental management system, laboratory management, etc. to industry personnel, the National Institute of Training for Standardization and Quality Management has been set up. A large number of participants from many developing countries have been trained in several such programmes covering standardization and Quality Systems.

8. BIS AND CONSUMERS 8.1 Service to consumers and creating quality consciousness among them BIS has set up a Consumer Affairs and Public Grievances Department at Headquarters. Nominated Public Grievance Officers at Regional and Branch Offices to deal with consumer complaints against BIS services and ISI marked products

9. ENFORCEMENT 9.1 To keep an eye on misuse of standard mark, an Enforcement Department is functioning at HQs, with designated coordination officers in ROs and BOs. Complaints on misuse of Standard Mark are investigated by the Enforcement Department and appropriate legal action is taken.

10. WESTERN REGION 10.1 The operation of the Bureau in the Western Region comprising of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Daman and Diu is looked after by the Western Regional Office located at Mumbai and the branch offices at Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and inspection offices at Aurangabad.