New Delhi, Sep 1 (KNN) A delegation from Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME), the leading MSME federation of India, on Wednesday held a meeting  with Alka Panda, Head of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the nodal standard body of India widely known for its ISI marking.

The delegation led by Naveen Jain, Senior Executive Committee Member, FISME, briefed the Director General, BIS about the multiple standards being operated in India which are posing serious challenges to MSMEs which are interested to supply standard products.

The delegation insisted BIS to make one agency responsible for implementation of standards for one type of product.

Jain informed Panda about the standards being implemented by different agencies of the Government, parallel to BIS standards, which are often mandatory, like FSSAI  standards for food items; BEE standards for electrical items etc.

The delegation elaborated to DG, BIS, how MSMEs have to allocate additional resources, both in terms of time and money, to obtain licenses for these ‘duplicate’ standards, which further reduces their razor thin operating margins.

Answering to a query on orientation to quality of MSMEs, Jain mentioned that while a large majority of the MSMEs are inclined to produce and supply certified standard products, they find it really difficult to liaise with multiple agencies.

Commenting on the issues raised, Panda informed the delegation that while BIS is the national standards body of India, it has not been empowered to stop other agencies from issuing parallel standards.

While DG, BIS agreed that there is a need for coordination among all standard issuing bodies, formation of an apex body of all Standards agencies may be superfluous.

Jain also pointed to the DG, that while PSUs like BHEL, Railways, PGCIL etc., are always member of the technical committees of BIS  making relevant standards, they  make their own standards to which a supplier has to conform.

Why these agencies do not ask for incorporation of their reasonable quality requirements in the BIS standards, thus saving MSMEs from additional costs and hassles, the delegation commented.

Panda, informed the delegation that BIS is planning a study on how ISI certification is helping MSMEs in reaching newer markets and also the challenges faced by them in adopting standards.

The delegation welcomed conducting of the study but insisted that the study should be entrusted to a body like FISME which has in depth knowledge about operations of MSMEs. (KNN/ DB)