Goyal asks BIS to cut quality testing charges

Goyal directed the BIS to go in for massive expansion and modernisation of testing labs so that entrepreneurs don't have to travel far to get the testing and certification of standards

New Delhi: Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said the charges for testing quality of products should be reduced for MSMEs and initial phase of startups and women entrepreneurs to encourage them to get their products certified and meet standard norms.

Goyal, who is also railways and commerce minister, virtually presided the 3rd Governing Council meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), an official statement said. Addressing the meeting, he said there is a need to change the approach of the country towards standardisation.

"Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the three mantra for faster economic development i.e. Speed, Skill and Scale. Now it is time to add fourth dimension of 'Standard' in to this," the minister said. Goyal said the fee for testing of standards should be reduced drastically "throughout" for the MSMEs and in the initial years for the startups and for women entrepreneurs. This will encourage them to get their products certified and also encourage the ease of doing business, he added.

Goyal directed the BIS to go in for massive expansion and modernisation of testing labs so that entrepreneurs don't have to travel far to get the testing and certification of standards. "We have to ensure that no one has to travel far for quality check for want of testing labs," he added. Goyal said the products manufactured in India should be of international standards whether it is manufactured for local market or for international market and further added that the quality should not be diluted to give advantage to any person or institution, whether private or government.

He said that it is a challenge for BIS to fast track the standard setting processes, especially for these programmes of national priority.