Officials from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Jammu and Kashmir branch conducted a raid on a seller’s premises on Kapurthala Road, seizing 700 steel tape measures suspected of violating quality control standards.
The enforcement action, carried out on Friday, targeted a seller accused of storing and offering for sale steel tape measures that lacked the mandatory BIS Standard Mark, commonly known as the ISI Mark.
The Chenab Times has learned that the seizure was made under Section 17(1)(a) of the BIS Act. Authorities stated that the seller contravened Section 29 of the BIS Act, which carries a potential penalty of imprisonment up to two years, a fine of no less than Rs 2,00,000, or both.
Legal proceedings are underway, with a complaint anticipated to be filed before the competent court of law. This action highlights ongoing efforts by the BIS to ensure product quality and consumer safety across various categories.
Steel tape measures, specifically those conforming to Indian Standard IS 1269 (Part 2), fall under the purview of the Legal Metrology (Material Measures of Length) (Quality Control) Order, 2023. This order, issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, mandates BIS certification for such products.
The BIS, through its various regional and branch offices, regularly conducts market surveillance and enforcement drives to curb the sale of non-conforming products. These measures aim to protect consumers from substandard goods and ensure fair trade practices within the market.
In light of such enforcement activities, BIS officials frequently engage in consumer outreach programs. These initiatives often involve educating the public on the importance of checking for the ISI mark on various products and understanding the certification process.
Consumers are encouraged to utilize the ‘BIS CARE’ mobile application, available on both Android and iOS platforms. This application serves as a tool for consumers to verify if a product is covered under mandatory BIS certification. It also allows users to check the authenticity of the ISI Mark and, for gold jewellery, the genuineness of the BIS Hallmark.
The presence of the ISI mark signifies that the product has been manufactured according to the relevant Indian Standards set by the BIS, ensuring a certain level of quality and safety. The BIS Act, 1986, empowers the Bureau to set up standards for articles and processes and to ensure that these standards are met by manufacturers and suppliers.
The department’s efforts are geared towards preventing the circulation of counterfeit or substandard goods that could pose risks to public health, safety, and the environment. The seizure of 700 units of steel tape measures indicates a significant quantity of potentially non-compliant products being offered for sale.
Further investigations are expected to reveal the extent of the distribution network involved and the specific brands that were found to be non-compliant. The legal action initiated by the BIS is a testament to the strict regulatory framework in place to uphold product quality in India.
The Chenab Times News Desk