Institutions for quality control and inspection in India

Certain institutions have been established exclusively for the purpose of quality control and inspection in India. These include export inspection council, export inspection agencies, Bureau of Indian Standards, etc.

Institutions for quality control and inspection in India

1. Export Inspection Council

The Export Inspection Council (EIC) was set up under section 3 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act. this council advises the government on measures for enforcement of quality control and inspection in relation to commodities intended for export. It also arranges for voluntary pre-shipment inspection of commodities not covered by compulsory inspection.

2. Export Inspection Agencies

Export Inspection Agencies have been established in Bombay, Calcultta, Cochin, Delhi and Madras. They all function under the administrative and technical control of the Export Inspection Council. They establish sub offices at ports. Testing laboratories are also available in such sub offices. Export inspection agencies conduct pre-shipment inspection in order to determine whether the products comply with the specifications laid down under the Export (Quality control and inspection) Act or any other specifications contained in the contract.

3. Bureau of Indian Standards

The Indian Standards institution (ISI) was established by the Government of India in 1947. Later it was renamed as Bureau of Indian Standards.

Aims and objectives

The aims and objectsives of Bureau of Indian Standards are as follows:

(i) To prepare standards relating to commodities, products, materials and prices.

(ii) To promote standards specified by it at national and international levels.

(iii) To certify industrial producers

(iv) To assist in the production of quality goods

(v) To circulate information relating to standardization.

The standards laid down by the BIS ensure quality and safety of products, minimize wastage, reduce costs, cut down unnecessary varieties, ensure interchangeability and increase productivity, Moreover, they guide production of goods and services, formulate basis for trade transactions, help technologists judge quality and performance and solve recurring problems of the designers and builders.

The Bureau of Indian Standards grants licenses to manufacturers producing goods in compliance with Indian standards to grant ISI mark for their products. The BIS has its central laboratory at Gazidabad, Uttarpradesh for testing certified products. Apart from this, laboratories on a smaller scale have also been established at the regional offices in Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and Mohali near Chandigarh. Laboratories have also been set up at Patna and Bangalore offices in collaboration with the respective state Governments.

ISI mark or a certificate of conformity issued by the Bureau is a must for export of a number of products. Products with ISI mark are not subject to any further inspection. Enactments such as Sea Customs Act, Tea Act, Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act etc., have recognized ISI mark for products meant for export.

4. Other agencies

Apart from Export inspection council and export inspection agencies, there are certain other agencies which are engaged in quality control and inspection. These include National Test House and private agencies like Italab Pvt. Ltd., Lylod’s Register of Shipping Ltd. etc.