New Delhi, Nov 15 (KNN) In a move to encourage MSMEs to acquire Product Certification Licences from standard bodies, MSME Ministry has decided to provide up to 75 per cent of the reimbursement to MSME units towards the expenditure incurred by them for obtaining such certification licenses from national or international standardization bodies, under its new scheme for Technology and Quality up-gradation under National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP).
 
 
“Ministry of MSME has launched a scheme for Technology and Quality up-gradation under NMCP to provide reimbursement to MSME units towards the expenditure incurred by them for obtaining product certification licenses from National Standardization Bodies (like BIS, BEE, etc.) or International Product Certifications (CE, UL, Energy Star, ANSI, etc.),” the MSME Development Institute has said .
 
 
“MSME manufacturing units will be provided reimbursement to an extent of 75 per cent of the actual expenditure incurred (limiting to Rs 1.50 Lakh for national and  Rs 2.00 Lakh for international certification), towards licensing of products to compete in National/ International markets,” the notification added.
 
Under the scheme one MSME unit can apply only once.
 
The purpose of the “Standard Marking” of the products is to enhance the acceptability of the products of the MSME sector in the National and International market by enhancing the consumers/user confidence in the product quality.
 
 
Marking to national/international product standards will also streamline the quality systems of the MSME’s and ensure safety of the product in use and enhance product/process efficiency,” the notification added.
 
 
 
To encourage and promote a wider coverage of MSME’s to obtain license/ certifications of such product standards of National/ International agencies, reimbursement of the expenditure incurred will be provided to the applicants towards the first product being licensed, except compulsory licenses/certifications,” MSME-DI said. (KNN/SD)