India urges simple language and affordable prices for testing equipments from ISO

New Delhi, Mar 8 (KNN) With a view to incorporate simple language in the ISO standards for the benefit of small and medium industries, India recently has raised their voice in front of international standard-setting body ISO.

India asked ISO to keep consumers’ view in mind while formulating and setting standards and language used should be simple enough so that everyone can understand it.

Further government asked for the affordable prices for the testing equipments and also voice of the developing world needs to be strengthened in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan discussed the matter in a meeting with Geneva-based ISO Secretary General Sergio Mujica .

Including India ISO has a total membership of 161 national standards bodies.

In the recent meeting, Paswan said, "The language used in the standards should be simple and test may be based on testing equipment which are easily available."

He further added that the testing equipments mentioned in the standards should be made available at affordable prices so that small scale industry would not face any problems and challenges while procuring the same. (KNN/YV)

He said that due to limited knowledge and expertise in the particular domain it becomes challenging for the small and medium enterprises to understand the specified methods of the test.

ISO develops standards that are intended to be used by the whole world therefore should make some attempts to address the development needs and expectations of the world particularly in developing countries, he added.

A good standard can only be formulated with inputs and contribution and support from all stakeholders.

He said while formulating standards common interest of stakeholder should be considered and make sure that it should not be biased for particular sector or stakeholder.

Since standards are generally drafted by technical experts at the global level, Paswan said “the voice of consumers goes unnoticed and the ISO should address their issues to ensure that consumers’ voice is given adequate importance”.