Standards/ TBTs / IPR-Market Access
RDSO becomes first standards body to join govt's 'One Nation, One Standard' scheme
The Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO), which sets standards for the railway sector, has become the first standards body in the country to join the central government's 'One Nation, One Standard' scheme. RDSO has now been recognized as a 'Standard Developing Organization' by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is implementing the scheme. The partnership will help RDSO, the sole R&D wing of the railways ministry, to realign its standard formulation procedures as per the code of good practices mentioned under the WTO-Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT). The recognition will be valid for three years.
New BIS license: Govt announces 50% rebate for start-ups, others
The government has slashed the annual marking fee to get a new BIS license and certification by 50 per cent for micro-industry, startups and women entrepreneurs. It also said the services of BIS are now made available free of cost to everyone and can be downloaded from the standardization port of e-BIS. The government has given 50 per cent rebate on (new) BIS certification of products for start-up, micro-industry and women entrepreneurs. An additional 10 per cent rebate has been given to the existing licence holders, which will give a boost to the government 'Vocal for Local' campaign.
Portal launched for filing complaints for alleged violation of public procurement order
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched an online portal to enable companies participating in government procurement to file complaints for alleged violation of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017.
According to an office memorandum of the DPIIT, stakeholders can lodge grievances for alleged violation of the order and the department can refer those to procuring entities/ministries/departments concerned through the portal on real-time basis for examination, necessary corrective action.
India to soon announce standards for low-cost AC charging point for EVs
The latest endeavour in the list of India's many, many efforts to encourage mass adoption of electric vehicles in the country is the upcoming announcement of standards for low-cost AC charging point for EVs. The Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India recently issued a statement, saying the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will soon announce new affordable EV charging standards. The BIS Committee on Electromobility Standards is expected to announce the new standards within two months, after completion of field and durability trials of sample products.
Govt launches network of 6,580 labs for quality control
The government has launched a nationwide network of 6,580 laboratories in line with Prime Minister’s vision that “scale” and “standards” are the two key principles that could catapult India as a global manufacturing hub, commerce and industry ministry said. The portal makes it possible to search labs for a particular product in a state or a city. It also enables finding the scope of accreditation and test methods of a laboratory. Facility for booking a test online has been developed and is being pilot tested for Textile Committee Laboratories.
India has submitted following TBT notifications to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
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G/TBT/N/IND/201 & G/TBT/N/IND/203: Thermoplastic materials.
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G/TBT/N/IND/202: Halogenated hydrocarbons.
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G/TBT/N/IND/204: Plastics in general.
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G/TBT/N/IND/205 & G/TBT/N/IND/206: Organic chemicals
G/TBT/N/IND/44/Add.10: Telecommunications.