Quality standards certification in India involves a comprehensive system of product certifications governed by laws enacted by the Parliament of India, managed by various agencies, and holding different legal statuses. These certifications are crucial for ensuring product quality, safety, and compliance with national and international standards.
Overview of Quality Standards Certification
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national standards organization of India, responsible for industrial standardization and product certifications. However, other governmental agencies manage standards for areas like agricultural products. Certification marks in India can be mandatory or voluntary, each serving a specific purpose and target audience.
Types of Certification Marks
Several certification marks are enforced by the state in India, including:
Agmark: For all agricultural products.
BIS Hallmark: Certifies the purity of gold jewellery.
Ecomark: An ecolabel for various products, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards, which is voluntary and promotional.
FPO mark: A mandatory mark for all processed fruit products, ensuring manufacture in a hygienic environment.
Geographical Indications marks: Defined under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), examples include Darjeeling tea and Basmati mark.
India Organic certification mark: For organically farmed food products, conforming to National Standards for Organic Products.
ISI mark: For industrial products, certifying conformity to BIS standards.
BIS/CRS Standard mark: For Information Technology (IT) and electronic products, ensuring quality and safety.
Non Polluting Vehicle mark: Certifying conformity to Bharat Stage emission standards for motor vehicles.
FSSAI: For all food products.
BIS certification for footwear: Mandatory for selling footwear in India, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
BIS certification for toys: Mandatory for electric and non-electric toys, ensuring safety.
Other Marks and Non-Statutory Marks
Besides the above, there are other marks required by law, such as toxicity labels on pesticide containers and vegetarian/non-vegetarian marks on packaged food products. Additionally, there are non-statutory certification marks promoted by the government, such as the Silk Mark and the Ayush Mark, which are promotional in nature and do not hold legal status.
Benefits of ISO Certification
ISO 9001, a globally recognized Quality Management System standard, is implemented by organizations across various industries to meet customer expectations, continually improve, and demonstrate a commitment to quality. ISO 9001 certification provides a solid foundation to build an organization able to withstand and adapt to the challenges of changing markets and customer needs over time. It also enhances customer satisfaction, establishes a framework for improved performance, and offers global recognition. Other ISO certifications, such as ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System), also provide significant benefits, including improved resource efficiency, compliance with regulations, and a safer work environment.
Certification Process and Accreditation
Certification typically involves an audit, and successful completion leads to certification, which is valid for a specific period, usually three years, with surveillance audits conducted periodically. Accreditation bodies like the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) and the United Accreditation Foundation (UAF) accredit certification services, ensuring credibility and reliability.