Symbols that assure the quality to the consumers.
As the country’s development is making giant leaps, a plethora of products in tune with the modern technology, ranging from kitchen appliances to switches, electrical motors, wiring cables, heaters, food stuffs, agricultural products etc are appearing in the markets.
Consumers are confused by the avalanche of goods and services. They are puzzled by different unique characteristics of the same product. In this present market scenario many consumers are in a dilemma about the selection of their product. They do not know what are the aspects to be taken in to consideration while purchasing a product. Many confused consumers in this process are falling prey to the external glitz and glamour of the product.
Now the question is, whether there is any system for a consumer who is not aware of the technical jargon used by the manufacturers to ensure him of the real quality and services of a product?
The answer is yes.
As part of Bureau of Indian Standards act, 1986 , BIS, Bureau of Indian Standards started functioning from 1 April, 1987. Earlier, Indian Standards Institution, which was formed in the year 1947 used to supervise the quality related aspects in the manufactured products. But, with the time, owing to industrialization, developments in the field of technology and the changes in the socio - economic scenario , the role and jurisdiction of ISI reduced. In this scenario, the government of India introduced BIS.
Since then BIS has become the national standards body.
Activities of BIS.
Stipulating ‘Standards’ for different goods.
Permitting the manufacturing units to use its symbol ISI.
Examining and supervising under its certification scheme.
Forming testing laboratories and maintaining them.
Recognizing the testing laboratories.
Supplying related information and its activities and standards to consumers and consumer bodies from time to time.
Publishing hand books and guide books related to its standards are the main activities of BIS.
What the manufacturing units ought to do?
Manufacturers, who wish to use the ISI symbol for their products have to apply for using the ISI symbol. On receiving the application from the manufacturing units to use the ISI symbol, BIS checks the manufacturer’s production procedures. If BIS is satisfied with the production procedures of the manufacturing companies, permits the use of the symbol ISI by issuing a license.
After issuing the license, BIS conducts occasional check up to confirm if the manufacturing units are maintaining its stipulated standards.
The uniqueness in BIS lies in its facility given to the consumer. If the consumer finds a product with ISI symbol is defective, he is entitled to get another product free of defects from the manufacturer.
It should be noted that it is not mandatory for every manufacturer to use the ISI symbol. But with the growing interest in the consumers to buy Products with ISI symbol, manufacturers are willingly coming forward to manufacture their products in accordance with the ISI stipulated standards.
Some products with ISI symbol.
Cement, electric bulbs, tube lights, electric irons, water heaters, ceiling fans, air conditioners, refrigerators. Batteries, inks, detergent powders. Match boxes, vegetable oils, razors, blades, door closers, submersible pipes, PVC water tubes, insecticides, clinical thermometers, biscuits, chewing gums, and many more products are available with ISI symbol in the market.
ISI symbol is mandatory for some Products.
Keeping in view the importance of public health and safety, BIS passed an order that its mandatory to have ISI symbol for certain products.
Some varieties of dry batteries, tungsten filament bulbs, oil pressure stoves, ordinary Portland cement, immersion water heaters, electric irons, and electric stoves, non –pressure wick stoves should have ISI symbol. If the consumer sees no such ISI symbol on any item of the list mentioned above, he can lodge a complaint to the BIS.
If the quality of the product is not satisfactory even with the presence of the ISI symbol, the consumer while lodging a complaint to the BIS, the following details are to be furnished.
Name of the product, type or grade.
The place and date of buying the product.
The receipt if it’s available.
Date of manufacturing of the product and batch number.
BIS, after receiving the complaint, checks if the product is manufactured according to norms of BSI. If not, instructs the manufacturer to give the customer a new product. After finding the reason for the deteriorated quality in the product, BIS points out the mistake to the manufacturer and suggests a few amendments and sees that instructions are carried out by the manufacturer.
Hence don’t forget to ensure the presence of ISI symbol in order to avail the consumer benefits.
Food adulteration, a common problem for all of us.
From dawn to dusk all of us irrespective of social status consume some kind of food in different forms in our day to day life. Unfortunately the present markets are Sellers’ markets. That means a consumer doesn't have an option but to accept whatever the trader gives us. A really helpless condition for the consumers. All consumers are not equipped with the knowledge and know how to segregate an adulterated food item from a an unadulterated food item. Mostly we depend upon our sensory organs like taste, colour, and smell to know the quality of food. But dependence on sensory organs to know the quality of food is always not possible and accurate.
Government to the rescue.
Realizing the dreary situation the consumers are in , the government felt the need to help the consumer in an easy and plain way to know the purity of food items. And it’s not all. The government also devised a method to empower the consumer to question the adulterator and demand full value of their money.
The Government has a certification mark known as AGMARK. The mark assures that the agricultural products conforms to a certain norms stipulated by an agency, Directorate of marketing and inspection which is an agency of the government of India.
AGMARK standards are applicable to a variety of agricultural products like pulses, cereals, vegetable oils to name a few.
The term AGMARK is the combination of two words namely AG for agriculture and MARK for denoting a standard.
How AGMARK functions.
AGMARK uses grading system in measuring a product’s quality. In this process it takes in to consideration, the place of manufacturing, Class, quantity, weight, colour, moisture, fat content and other chemical and physical aspects.
Then the production process of the product is studied, classified and published in the government gazettes. For example, Ghee grading standards are published in the gazette as , “Ghee trading and marketing rules “ According to the grades designated to the products, a certificate is issued along with a set of norms.
Ghee is available in 3 different grades.
They are designated as ordinary, special and standardized.
AGMARK food products.
Products with AGMARK are a bit expensive than the products without AGMARK. But it is worth. Because there won’t be any deviation from the specified quality and weight. Thus, the consumer can be confident about the quality of the product.
AGMARK is voluntary.
It’s not mandatory for any manufactures to use the symbol and produce quality products conforming to the norms laid out by AGMARK. But owing to the demand of products with AGMARK symbol and of course its quality standards, every business man will come forward to produce the products according the norms and use AGMARK seal on their products.
Consumers can get a replacement of the product with AGMARK seal if it is defective.
Fake AGMARK seals.
Unscrupulous traders are indulging in making and using fake AGMARK symbols. In such frauds Consumer can lodge a complaint with senior marketing officers of the region.
Fruit products order.
Fruit products order or FPO is another certification mark that assures that the products covered under this certification are made or manufactured conforming to the norms stipulated by ‘Food safety and standards act of 2006’ by the ministry of law and justice. New Delhi.
As the name indicates FPO covers fruit products like drinks that are packed, dehydrated fruits etc. Simply put FPO covers all products made out of fruits.
What is the necessity of FPO?
Some food products are available in some seasons only. In order to make such fruits and fruit products available to all throughout the year, its essential to store them in a right atmosphere. Here is where the consumer of fruits or fruit products gets perplexed. There is no way for him to know if the fruit products he intends to buy are retaining their food value . He is unsure, If they are made under the hygienic conditions. The colours used are natural or artificial additives
It’s to clear the doubts and suspicions of the consumer, the government has empowered the ministry of food processing industries to check and control the quality standards for processing and manufacturing food products including fruit products stipulated through their certification mark FPO.
What are the standards stipulated by FPO.
FPO‘s realm starts right from the stage of fruit procurement to the stage of reaching the consumer. All the in between acts and processes including the hygienic aspects at the place of processing, the hygienic condition and the health of the persons who participate in the process are taken in to consideration.Additionally FPO checks the storage facility of the bottles and other containers in the processing units. It also sees the hygienic conditions in and around the processing unit. Other details about the product stipulated by FPO, like colors, preservatives and additives used should be labeled and displayed on the container.
If in the sweetened aerated water, the percentage of fruit juice or pulp is less than 10 percent, a note should be printed on the label that the contents do not contain fruit juice or fruit pulp. Even on the aerated water bottles, the note as mentioned above should be displayed on the label.
In no condition false information about the product is accepted. False information by all means should be avoided. The label also should display FPO license number and date of manufacturing.In a nutshell, the government of India made different certification marks for different categories to assure the consumer the quality and quantity they expect to realize fully their invested money.
Bureau of Indian Standards, the national standards organization governs the industry related manufacturing systems and certifications. While the agricultural and food related standards are governed by AGMARK. FPO or Food products Order assures the quality of the fruits and products made out of fruits.
Consumers should avail these provisions to get full value of their money and to avoid the exploitation of traders through their restricted trade practices.
An overview of all the certification marks, both mandatory and non mandatory.
The following are the mandatory certification marks. We have seen in detail about all the features of mandatory certification marks of ISI certification mark, aimed to assure the quality of industrial products according to the standards stipulated by Bureau of Indian standards
FPO mark is aimed at assuring all the quality aspects related to processed fruit products.
Agmark assures the quality in all agricultural products.
Besides the above there are other certification marks.
They are Non polluting vehicle mark to be displayed on motor vehicles. Bharat stage emission standards stipulates the quality standards.
To certify the purity of gold jewelry, BIS hallmark stipulates the norms to ensure the quality.
Organic food products means, that they are produced without using any chemical fertilizers and pesticides. India Organic stipulates the norms to be complied with while producing organic farmed food products.
The Ecomark is voluntary. It’s an ecolabel for a plethora of products. Bureau of Indian standards issues the ecolabel.
Other labels. But not certification marks.
The Vegetarian mark comes with a green dot symbol. And the Non – vegetarian mark comes with a brown dot symbol. It helps the consumer to identify from the symbols mentioned above on the packaged food products. The dot symbols are mandatory for packaged food products Either of this is mandatory for packaged food products.
We use several pesticides for different farming purposes. On the containers of pesticides sold in India Toxicity label is mandatory. The purpose of the label is to inform the consumer about the level of toxicity of the pesticide in four levels
Promotional certification marks.
The promotional certification marks like Silk Mark that certifies a textile is made of pure silk, Ayush mark, that certifies the product is a herbal product and Darjeeling tea that certifies the tea is a Darjeeling tea do not have a legal status.
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