On Monday, think tank GTRI stated that the government should implement a centralized digital verification system before issuing new Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to prevent fraud and maintain the integrity of certification processes.
QCOs are issued to limit the import of low-quality products and safeguard consumers.
The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) asserted that India is confronting an increasing issue of sub-standard imports that misleadingly assert compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification.
According to GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava, these substandard products infiltrate the market with counterfeit BIS labels, deceiving consumers and evading safety and quality regulations.
This problem is prevalent in industries such as electronics, toys, construction materials, machinery, and consumer goods, all of which necessitate BIS certification.
He stated that, before issuing QCOs for new products, the government needs to establish an online system to avert fraud and guarantee the integrity of both the BIS certification and QCO schemes.
To counter this escalating threat, it is necessary to enforce more rigorously, to impose stricter checks at ports, and to apply harsh penalties for violations.
“India requires a centralised digital verification system in which licensed foreign manufacturers can register and upload information about all BIS-certified shipments,” Srivastava stated that this would enable customs officials to verify shipments in real-time before clearing imports, and that connecting this system with ICEGATE (Indian Customs Electronic Commerce Gateway) would guarantee seamless verification.
He noted that India needs to move fast to bolster digital verification measures and enhance collaboration among BIS, customs, and manufacturers.