Standards/ TBTs / IPR-Market Access
BIS Mobile App ‘BIS-Care’ & Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Training Portals
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution launched the Bureau of Indian Standard’s Mobile App ‘BIS-Care’ and three portals – the Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Training Portals of e-BIS on www.manakonline.in for consumers. The mobile app BIS-Care can be operated on any Android phone and can be downloaded free from Google play store. Consumers can check the authenticity of the ISI-marked and hallmarked products and lodge complaints using this app. The Minister said that the government has taken several steps to protect the interests of consumers.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019 comes into force, covers e-commerce too
The Consumer Protection Act,2019 comes in to force from 20 July, with its salient features including the establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. This new Act will empower consumers and help them in protecting their rights through its various notified rules and provisions like Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, Mediation, Product Liability and punishment for manufacture or sale of products containing adulterant / spurious goods.
Modi govt starts promoting Make in India goods on government procurement portal
In tune with the agenda of 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India), the government has started promoting 'Make in India' products on government procurement portal Government e-Marketplace (GEM). Launched in 2016, GeM portal is used for online purchases of goods and services by all the central government ministries and departments. Currently, government departments, ministries, public sector units, state governments, and Central Armed Police Forces are allowed to carry out transactions through this portal. Items on sale include a wide range of products - from office stationery to vehicles.
BIS to frame quality norms for 371 items by March 2021 to curb non-essential imports
As India strives towards self-reliance, imports of many non-essential items will be curbed from March 2021. BIS is ready with the regulations prescribed by the Commerce Ministry for quality imports, many sub-standard and non-essential imports will be stopped from March 2021. BIS is set to frame quality norms for 371 items by March 2021 which will include multiple segments, from steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and electrical machinery to furniture and toys. The identified tariff lines include Chinese products too and they are trying to frame standards and make them mandatory.
India makes testing of imported telecom equipment mandatory
India has notified the World Trade Organization its intention to make it mandatory for telecom products sold, imported or used in the country, including feedback device, transmission terminal equipment and broadband equipment, to be tested and certified by the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
In three separate submissions made to the WTO Committee on Technical Barrier to Trade on the three identified items, India sought comments from WTO members on the mandatory certification regime within 30 days.