Expansion of Quality Control Orders from 14 to 156 over the past decade, as stated by the Minister.
In a significant address at the 75th anniversary celebration of SGS in India, Minister Piyush Goyal outlined three key focus areas for industry and stakeholders in India's quality journey. The Minister emphasized the importance of building trust through testing, stating that every test result should carry the weight of trust of 140 crore Indians.
Goyal urged industries to demand modern testing facilities in India, with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) willing to fund 100% of the required amount. He emphasized that India's future progress will be determined by its own Indian standards, and the goal is for India to have only one standard, a high quality standard, that will work in India and be exported to the rest of the world.
Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by regulatory authorities like the BIS and various ministries. This is part of a broader effort to ensure that products manufactured or imported into the country meet prescribed safety, quality, and performance standards. The rise in QCOs reflects a strengthening of regulatory oversight aimed at protecting consumers and raising product standards.
To align Indian standards with global benchmarks, India has actively worked through the BIS to harmonize Indian standards with international standards such as those of ISO, IEC, and others. The government has also implemented mandatory standards and certification processes for critical products, including electronics, medical devices, and construction materials, to improve safety and quality.
India is steadily moving towards a unified quality regime for both domestic and international markets. The government is committed to strengthening India's quality infrastructure and fostering global trust in Indian products and services. Indian agencies like BIS, FSSAI, and various line ministries are working together to harmonize Indian standards with global ones.
The Minister also highlighted the government's partnership with EFTA countries, including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland, as evidenced by the recently finalised Free Trade Agreement with EFTA countries, which will soon come into effect.
Goyal expressed confidence that SGS will continue to serve the partnership in expanding trade and investments. However, he did not reiterate the Prime Minister's vision of "Zero Defect, Zero Effect" or outline any new key focus areas for industry and stakeholders in India's quality journey.
The industry needs to identify areas where testing is required, and larger industry bodies should support small MSMEs in upgrading their quality to global standards. The Minister's call for increased stakeholder consultations and participation of industry, academia, startups, to set global standards, underscores the need for collective action in India's quality journey.
Businesses should prioritize upgrading their quality to global standards, as specifically highlighted by Minister Piyush Goyal. To achieve this, finance will play a crucial role in funding modern testing facilities, a point emphasized by the Minister.
