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THE BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS ACT, 2016
NO. 11 OF 2016
[21st March, 2016.]
An Act to provide for the establishment of a national standards body for the harmonious development of the activities of standardisation, conformity assessment and quality assurance of goods, articles, processes, systems and services and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title, extent and commencement.
1. (1) This Act may be called the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(1) "article" means any substance, artificial or natural, or partly artificial or partly natural, whether raw or partly or wholly processed or manufactured or handmade within India or imported into India;
(2) "assaying and hallmarking centre" means a testing and marking centre recognised by the Bureau to determine the purity of precious metal articles and to apply hallmark on the precious metal articles in a manner as may be determined by regulations;
(3) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Indian Standards established under section 3;
(4) "certification officer" means a certification officer appointed under sub-section (1) of section 27;
(5) "certified body" means a holder of certificate of conformity or licence under sub-section (2) of section 13 in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service which conforms to a standard;
(6) "certified jeweller" means a jeweller who has been granted a certificate by the Bureau to get manufactured for sale or to sell any precious metal article after getting the same hallmarked in a manner as may be determined by regulations;
(7) "conformity assessment" means demonstration that requirements as may be specified relating to an article, process, system, service, person or body are fulfilled;
(8) "conformity assessment scheme" means a scheme relating to such goods, article, process, system or service as may be notified by the Bureau under section 12;
68 of 1986.
(9) "consumer" means a person as defined in the Consumer Protection Act, 1986;
(10) "covering" includes any stopper, cask, bottle, vessel, box, crate, cover, capsule, case, frame, wrapper, bag, sack, pouch or other container;
(11) "Director General" means the Director General appointed under sub-section (1) of section 7;
(12) "Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee constituted under sub-section (1) of section 4;
(13) "fund" means the fund constituted under section 20;
3 of 1930.
(14) "goods" includes all kinds of movable properties under the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, other than actionable claims, money, stocks and shares;
(15) "Governing Council" means a Governing Council constituted under sub-section (3) of section 3;
(16) "Hallmark" means in relation to precious metal article, the Standard Mark, which indicates the proportionate content of precious metal in that article as per the relevant Indian Standard;
(17) "Indian Standard" means the standard including any tentative or provisional standard established and published by the Bureau, in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service, indicative of the quality and specification of such goods, article, process, system or service and includes—
(i) any standard adopted by the Bureau under sub-section (2) of section 10; and
63 of 1986.
(ii) any standard established and published, or recognised, by the Bureau of Indian Standards established under the Bureau of Indian Standard Act, 1986, which was in force immediately before the commencement of this Act;
21 of 1860.
(18) "Indian Standards Institution" means the Indian Standards Institution registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860;
(19) "jeweller" means a person engaged in the business to get manufactured precious metal article for sale or to sell precious metal articles;
(20) "licence" means a licence granted under section 13 to use a specified Standard Mark in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service, which conforms to a standard;
(21) "manufacturer" means a person responsible for designing and manufacturing any goods or article;
(22) "mark" includes a device, brand, heading, label, ticket, pictorial representation, name, signature, word, letter or numeral or any combination thereof;
(23) "member" means a member of the Governing Council, Executive Committee or any of the Advisory Committee;
(24) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression “notify” or “notified” shall be construed accordingly;
(25) "person" means a manufacturer, an importer, a distributor, retailer, seller or lessor of goods or article or provider of service or any other person who uses or applies his name or trade mark or any other distinctive mark on to goods or article or while providing a service, for any consideration or gives goods or article or provides service as prize or gift for commercial purposes including their representative and any person who is engaged in such activities, where the manufacturer, importer, distributor, retailer, seller, lessor or provider of service cannot be identified;
(26) "precious metal" means gold, silver, platinum and palladium;
(27) "precious metal article" means any article made entirely or in part from precious metals or their alloys;
(28) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(29) "process" means a set of inter-related or interacting activities, which transforms inputs into outputs;
(30) "recognised testing and marking centre" means a testing and marking centre recognised by the Bureau under sub-section (5) of section 14;
(31) “recognised testing laboratory” means a testing laboratory recognised by the Bureau under sub-section (4) of section 13;
(32) "registering authority" means any authority competent under any law for the time being in force to register any company, firm or other body of persons, or any trade mark or design, or to grant a patent;
(33) "regulations" means regulations made by the Bureau under this Act;
(34) "sale" means to sell, distribute, hire, lease or exchange of goods, article, process, system or service for any consideration or for commercial purposes;
(35) "seller" means a person who is engaged in the sale of any goods, article, process, system or service;
(36) "service" means the result generated by activities at the interface between an organisation and a customer and by organisation's internal activities, to meet customer requirements;
(37) "specification" means a description of goods, article, process, system or service as far as practicable by reference to its nature, quality, strength, purity, composition, quantity, dimensions, weight, grade, durability, origin, age, material, mode of manufacture or processing, consistency and reliability of service delivery or other characteristics to distinguish it from any other goods, article, process, system or service;
(38) "specified" means specified by the regulations;
(39) "standards" means documented agreements containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics, to ensure that goods, articles, processes, systems and services are fit for their purpose;
(40) "Standard Mark" means the mark specified by the Bureau, and includes Hallmark, to represent conformity of goods, article, process, system or service to a particular Indian Standard or conformity to a standard, the mark of which has been established, adopted or recognised by the Bureau and is marked on the article or goods as a Standard Mark or on its covering or label attached to such goods or article so marked;
(41) "system" means a set of inter-related or interacting elements;
(42) "testing laboratory" means a body set up for the purpose of testing of goods or article against a set of requirements and report its findings;
(43) "trade mark" means a mark used or proposed to be used in relation to goods or article or process or system or service for the purpose of indicating, or so as to indicate, a connection in the course of trade of goods, article, process, system or service, as the case may be, and some person having the right, either as proprietor or as registered user, to use the mark, whether with or without any indication of the identity of that person.
CHAPTER II
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
Establishment of Bureau and Constitution of Governing Council.
3. (1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, there shall be established a national body for the purposes of this Act, a Bureau, to be called the Bureau of Indian Standards.
(2) The Bureau shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
(3) The members of the Governing Council shall constitute the Bureau and general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Bureau shall vest in the Governing Council, which shall consist of the following members, namely:—
(a) the Minister in-charge of the Ministry or Department of the Central Government having administrative control of the Bureau who shall be ex officio President of the Bureau;
(b) the Minister of State or a Deputy Minister, if any, in the Ministry or Department of the Central Government having administrative control of the Bureau who shall be ex officio Vice-President of the Bureau, and where there is no such Minister of State or Deputy Minister, such person as may be nominated by the Central Government to be the Vice-President of the Bureau;
(c) the Secretary to the Government of India of the Ministry or Department of the Central Government having administrative control of the Bureau, ex officio;
(d) the Director General of the Bureau, ex officio;
(e) such number of other persons to represent the Government, industry, scientific and research institutions, consumers and other interests, as may be prescribed, to be appointed by the Central Government.
(4) The term of office of the members referred to in clause (e) of sub-section (3) and the manner of filling vacancies among, and the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by the members, shall be such as may be prescribed:
63 of 1986.
Provided that a member, other than an ex officio member of the Bureau of Indian Standards constituted under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, shall, after the commencement of this Act, continue to hold such office as member till the completion of his term.
(5) The Governing Council may associate with itself, in such manner and for such purposes as may be prescribed, any person whose assistance or advice it may desire in complying with any of the provisions of this Act and a person so associated shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Governing Council relevant to the purposes for which he has been associated but shall not have the right to vote.
(6) The Governing Council may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to any member, the Director General or any other person subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, such of its powers and functions under this Act except the powers under section 37 as it may deem necessary.
Executive Committee of Bureau.
4. (1) The Governing Council may, with the prior approval of the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute an Executive Committee which shall consist of the following members, namely:—
(a) Director General of the Bureau, who shall be its ex officio Chairman; and
(b) such number of members, as may be prescribed.
(2) The Executive Committee constituted under sub-section (1) shall perform, exercise and discharge such functions, powers and duties of the Bureau, as may be delegated to it by the Governing Council.
Advisory Committees of Bureau.
5. (1) Subject to any regulations made in this behalf, the Governing Council may, from time to time and as and when it is considered necessary, constitute the following Advisory Committees for the efficient discharge of the functions of the Bureau, namely: —
(a) Finance Advisory Committee;
(b) Conformity Assessment Advisory Committee;
(c) Standards Advisory Committee;
(d) Testing and Calibration Advisory Committee; and
(e) such number of other committees as may be specified by regulations.
(2) Each Advisory Committee shall consist of a Chairman and such other members as may be specified by regulations.
Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate act or proceedings.
6. No act or proceedings of the Governing Council, under section 3 shall be invalid merely by reason of—
(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of the Governing Council; or
(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the Governing Council; or
(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Governing Council not affecting the merits of the case.
Director General.
7. (1) The Central Government shall appoint a Director General of the Bureau.
(2) The terms and conditions of service of the Director General of the Bureau shall be such as may be prescribed.
(3) Subject to the general superintendence and control of the Governing Council, the Director General of the Bureau shall be the Chief Executive Authority of the Bureau.
(4) The Director General of the Bureau shall exercise and discharge such of the powers and duties of the Bureau as may be specified by regulations.
(5) The Director General may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to any officer of the Bureau subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, such of his powers and functions as are assigned to him under the regulations or are delegated to him by the Governing Council, as he may deem necessary.
Officers and employees of Bureau.
8. (1) The Bureau may appoint such other officers and employees as it considers necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act.
(2) The terms and conditions of service of officers and employees of the Bureau appointed under sub-section (1) shall be such as may be specified by regulations.
Powers and functions of Bureau.
9. (1) The powers and duties as may be assigned to the Bureau under this Act shall be exercised and performed by the Governing Council and, in particular, such powers may include the power to—
(a) establish branches, offices or agencies in India or outside;
(b) recognise, on reciprocal basis or otherwise, with the prior approval of the Central Government, the mark of any international body or institution, on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by the Bureau in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service at par with the Standard Mark for such goods, article, process, system or service;
(c) seek recognition of the Bureau and of the Indian Standards outside India on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by the Bureau with any corresponding institution or organisation in any country or with any international organisation;
(d) enter into and search places, premises or vehicles, and inspect and seize goods or articles and documents to enforce the provisions of this Act;
(e) provide services to manufacturers and consumers of goods or articles or processes for compliances of standards on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon;
(f) provide training services in relation to quality management, standards, conformity assessment, laboratory testing and calibration, and any other related areas;
(g) publish Indian Standards and sell such publications and publications of international bodies;
(h) authorise agencies in India or outside India for carrying out any or all activities of the Bureau and such other purposes as may be necessary on such terms and conditions as it deems fit;
(i) obtain membership in regional, international and foreign bodies having objects similar to that of the Bureau and participate in international standards setting process;
(j) undertake testing of samples for purposes other than for conformity assessment; and
(k) undertake activities relating to legal metrology.
(2) The Bureau shall take all necessary steps for promotion, monitoring and management of the quality of goods, articles, processes, systems and services, as may be necessary, to protect the interests of consumers and various other stake holders which may include the following namely:—
(a) carrying out market surveillance or survey of any goods, article, process, system or service to monitor their quality and publish findings of such surveillance or surveys;
(b) promotion of quality in connection with any goods, article, process, system or service by creating awareness among the consumers and the industry and educate them about quality and standards in connection with any goods, article, process, system and service;
(c) promotion of safety in connection with any goods, article, process, system or service;
(d) identification of any goods, articles, process, system or service for which there is a need to establish a new Indian Standard, or to revise an existing Indian Standard;
(e) promoting the use of Indian Standards;
(f) recognising or accrediting any institution in India or outside which is engaged in conformity certification and inspection of any goods, article, process, system or service or of testing laboratories;
(g) coordination and promotion of activities of any association of manufacturers or consumers or any other body in relation to improvement in the quality or in the implementation of any quality assurance activities in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service; and
(h) such other functions as may be necessary for promotion, monitoring and management of the quality of goods, articles, processes, systems and services and to protect the interests of consumers and other stake holders.
(3) The Bureau shall perform its functions under this section through the Governing Council in accordance with the direction and subject to such rules as may be made by the Central Government.
CHAPTER III
INDIAN STANDARDS, CERTIFICATION AND LICENCE
Indian Standards.
10. (1) The standards established by the Bureau shall be the Indian Standards.
(2) The Bureau may—
(a) establish, publish, review and promote the Indian Standard, in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service in such manner as may be prescribed;
(b) adopt as Indian Standard, any standard, established by any other Institution in India or elsewhere, in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service in such manner as may be prescribed;
(c) recognise or accredit any institution in India or outside which is engaged in standardisation;
(d) undertake, support and promote such research as may be necessary for formulation of Indian Standards.
(3) The Bureau, for the purpose of this section, shall constitute, as and when considered necessary, such number of technical committees of experts for the formulation of standards in respect of goods, articles, processes, systems or services, as may be necessary.
(4) The Indian Standard shall be notified and remain valid till withdrawn by the Bureau.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, the copyright in an Indian Standard or any other publication of the Bureau shall vest in the Bureau.
Prohibition to publish, reproduce or record without authorization by Bureau.
11. (1) No individual shall, without the authorisation of the Bureau, in any manner or form, publish, reproduce or record any Indian Standard or part thereof, or any other publication of the Bureau.
(2) No person shall issue a document that creates, or may create the impression that it is or contains an Indian Standard, as contemplated in this Act:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent any individual from making a copy of Indian Standard for his personal use.
Conformity Assessment scheme.
12. (1) The Bureau may notify a specific or different conformity assessment scheme for any goods, article, process, system or service or for a group of goods, articles, processes, systems or services, as the case may be, with respect to any Indian Standard or any other standard in a manner as may be specified by regulations.
(2) The Bureau may establish a Standard Mark in relation to each of its conformity assessment schemes, which shall be of such design and contain such particulars as may be specified by regulations to represent a particular standard.
Grant of licence or certificate of conformity.
13. (1) A person may apply for grant of licence or certificate of conformity, as the case may be, if the goods, article, process, system or service conforms to an Indian Standard.
(2) Where any goods, article, process, system or service conforms to a standard, the Director General may, by an order, grant—
(a) a certificate of conformity in a manner as may be specified by regulations; or
(b) a licence to use or apply a Standard Mark in a manner as may be specified by regulations,
subject to such conditions and on payment of such fees, including late fee or fine, before or during the operation of the certificate of conformity or licence, and as determined by regulations.
(3) While granting a certificate of conformity or licence to use a Standard Mark, the Bureau may, by order, specify the marking and labelling requirements that shall necessarily be affixed as may be specified from time to time.
(4) The Bureau may establish, maintain or recognise testing laboratories for the purposes of conformity assessment and quality assurance and for such other purposes as may be required for carrying out its functions.
Certification of Standard Mark of jewellers and sellers of certain specified goods or articles.
14. (1) The Central Government, after consulting the Bureau, may notify precious metal articles or other goods or articles as it may consider necessary, to be marked with a Hallmark or Standard Mark, as the case may be, in a manner as specified in sub-section (2).
(2) The goods or articles notified in sub-section (1) may be sold through retail outlets certified by the Bureau after such goods or articles have been assessed for conformity to the relevant standard by testing and marking centre, recognised by the Bureau and marked with Hallmark or Standard Mark, as the case may be, as specified by regulations.
(3) The Central Government may, after consulting the Bureau, by an order published in the Official Gazette, make it compulsory for the sellers of goods or article notified under sub-section (1) to be sold only through certified sales outlets fulfilling such conditions as may be determined by regulations.
(4) The Bureau may, by an order, grant, renew, suspend or cancel certification of Standard Mark or Hallmark of a jeweller or any other seller for sale of goods or articles notified under sub-section (1) in such manner as may be determined by regulations.
(5) The Bureau may establish, maintain and recognise testing and marking centres, including assaying and hallmarking centres, for conformity assessment and application of Standard Mark, including Hallmark, on goods or articles notified under sub-section (1), in a manner as may be specified by regulations.
(6) No testing and marking centre or assaying and hallmarking centre, other than the recognised by the Bureau, shall with respect to goods or articles notified under sub-section (1), use, affix, emboss, engrave, print or apply in any manner the Standard Mark, including the Hallmark, or colourable imitation thereof, on any goods or article; and make any claim in relation to the use and application of a Standard Mark, including the Hallmark, through advertisements, sales promotion leaflets, price lists or the like.
(7) Every recognised testing and marking centre, including assaying and hallmarking centre, shall use or apply Standard Mark on good or articles notified under sub-section (1), including Hallmark on precious metal articles, after accurately determining the conformity of the same in a manner as may be specified.
(8) No recognised testing and marking centre, including assaying and hallmarking centre, shall, notwithstanding that it has been recognised under sub-section (5), use or apply in relation to any goods or article notified under sub-section (1) a Standard Mark, including Hallmark, or any colourable imitation thereof, unless such goods or article conforms to the relevant standard.
Prohibition to import, sell, exhibit, etc.
15. (1) No person shall import, distribute, sell, store or exhibit for sale, any goods or article under sub-section (1) of section 14, except under certification from the Bureau.
(2) No person, other than that certified by the Bureau, shall sell or display or offer to sell goods or articles that are notified under sub-section (3) of section 14 and marked with the Standard Mark, including Hallmark and claim in relation to the Standard Mark, including Hallmark, through advertisements, sales promotion leaflets, price lists or the like.
(3) No certified jeweller or seller shall sell or display or offer to sell any notified goods or articles, notwithstanding that he has been granted certification, with the Standard Mark, including Hallmark, or any colourable imitation thereof, unless such goods or article is marked with a Standard Mark or Hallmark, in a manner as may be specified by regulations, and unless such goods or article conforms to the relevant standard.
Central Government to direct compulsory use of Standard Mark.
16. (1) If the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest or for the protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of the environment, or prevention of unfair trade practices, or national security, it may, after consulting the Bureau, by an order published in the Official Gazette, notify—
(a) goods or article of any scheduled industry, process, system or service; or
(b) essential requirements to which such goods, article, process, system or service,
which shall conform to a standard and direct the use of the Standard Mark under a licence or certificate of conformity as compulsory on such goods, article, process, system or service.
Explanation.—For the purpose of this sub-section,—
65 of 1951.
(i) the expression “scheduled industry” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951;
(ii) it is hereby clarified that essential requirements are requirements, expressed in terms of the parameters to be achieved or requirements of standard in technical terms that effectively ensure that any goods, article, process, system or service meet the objective of health, safety and environment.
(2) The Central Government may, by an order authorise Bureau or any other agency having necessary accreditation or recognition and valid approval to certify and enforce conformity to the relevant standard or prescribed essential requirements under sub-section (1).
Prohibition to manufacture, sell, etc., certain goods without Standard Mark.
17. (1) No person shall manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or exhibit for sale any such goods, article, process, system or service under sub-section (1) of section 16—
(a) without a Standard Mark, except under a valid licence; or
(b) notwithstanding that he has been granted a license, apply a Standard Mark, unless such goods, article, process, system or service conforms to the relevant standard or prescribed essential requirements.
(2) No person shall make a public claim, through advertisements, sales promotion leaflets, price lists or the like, that his goods, article, process, system or service conforms to an Indian standard or make such a declaration on the goods or article, without having a valid certificate of conformity or licence from the Bureau or any other authority approved by the Central Government under sub-section (2) of section 16.
(3) No person shall use or apply or purport to use or apply in any manner, in the manufacture, distribution, sale, hire, lease or exhibit or offer for sale of any goods, article, process, system or service, or in the title of any patent or in any trade mark or design, a Standard Mark or any colourable imitation thereof, except under a valid licence from the Bureau.
Obligations of licence holder, seller, etc.
18. (1) The licence holder shall, at all times, remain responsible for conformance of the goods, articles, processes, s
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