Footwear Industry Appeals to Government for Accessible Labs to Ensure BIS Compliance
Jalandhar, August 9 (KNN) – The Jalandhar Rubber Goods Manufacturers Association has called upon the government to establish laboratories at subsidized rates exclusively aimed at assisting micro and small industries in assessing and enhancing the quality of their products.
During a meeting centered on the restructuring of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms, chaired by the Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal, a delegation from the association expressed their concern regarding the lack of awareness among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) regarding the BIS department.
Rakesh Behl, a representative of the association, conveyed that Minister Piyush Goyal revealed plans for the BIS to conduct workshops and directed the Bureau of Indian Standards to set up 100 laboratories by December 2023, with an ambitious goal of establishing 500 labs by 2024, as reported by The Tribune.
“Minister Goyal emphasized to the Jalandhar industry that producing sub-standard footwear products would no longer be permissible. He stressed the importance of elevating their products to meet the minimum required standards, thereby ensuring consumer confidence and preventing any form of deception,” Behal explained.
Effective from July 1, 2023, a BIS license has become mandatory for a range of 24 footwear products. This move signifies a significant stride toward standardizing the quality and safety of footwear products available in the market.
The efforts of the Jalandhar Rubber Goods Manufacturers Association to spotlight the needs of MSMEs and encourage their alignment with BIS norms reflect a collaborative approach towards upholding quality benchmarks and safeguarding consumer interests. The establishment of accessible laboratories is poised to empower smaller enterprises to excel in compliance and product excellence, thereby fostering a thriving and trustworthy marketplace.
