Bureau of Indian Standards – TheNewsHub

India plans new steel standards to protect domestic industry from Chinese dumping

Aseem — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:06 +0000

In a move to curb cheap Chinese steel imports and protect the domestic industry, the government is planning to bring additional steel products under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) framework.

The plan also involves expanding the classification of existing steel standards to prevent products with minor variations from escaping scrutiny during imports, two persons aware of the development said.

The new standards as well as expanded definition of existing steel grades would be finalized in the next six months so that unrestricted imports of cut-price steel is checked, particularly from China, which has emerged as the number one source of steel dumping in India.

Also read | BIS, Vietnam probe cloud steel imports

An import is said to be dumped when it is sold at lower than the cost of production.

“We are saying that all the categories of that have slight variations from the defined BIS standards, they should be included in one of the steel grades. If any grade is still left, we have asked BIS to define standards for them so that most of the steel being imported form part standards,” said the first person quoted above.

“In six months’time, we want that almost all grades are covered under BIS standards so that there is no need for no-objection certificate (NOC) from the steel ministry for imports. Such NOC, thereafter, will be given only in cases where a particular steel grade is not made in India and the quantity of imports is too small,” said the second person.

India has 151 standards that cover 1,375 grades of steel. Having standards for steel grades means that any exporter sending steel consignment to India also has to take a licence from BIS conforming steel exports to the standards set by BIS. In the absence of proper grading and standards, the ministry of steel is flooded with requests for NOCs for steel imports that also often push up imports of non-conforming cheap steel into the country.

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“The steel ministry has held consultation with BIS and has also appointed Mecon as technical consultant to identify and define new steel standards to prevent steel dumping from China,” said the first person.

These new standards will make it difficult for steel dumping as products will need to be certified before being permitted to enter the Indian market.

The move comes in the backdrop of India’s steel imports jumping by a staggering 41.3% between April and September of FY25 to 4.7 million tonnes (mt). China is the biggest contributor to this growth, accounting for 31% of the total imports, followed by South Korea at 26% and Vietnam at 8.4%.

Vietnam is also being leveraged by Chinese companies to dump steel in India, with the import spike from Vietnam being flagged by various Indian government departments. Vietnam accounted for 40,000 tonnes of imports during the same period.

“The expanded certification process will significantly benefit the steel sector in several ways. First, it will create a level playing field for domestic manufacturers by ensuring that all steel products in the market adhere to the same high-quality standards. This is particularly important in an environment where low-priced imports threaten the viability of local businesses. By enforcing stringent quality standards, the government can help boost consumer confidence in domestically produced steel, potentially increasing demand,” said Aditya Shrivastava, general manager, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.

Also read | Imports weigh on Tata Steel Q2 net, even as European losses narrow

“Moreover, an enlarged mandate for steel grades is likely to prevent importers from escaping compliance with these standards. Overseas manufacturers often make minor adjustments to their products to circumvent regulations. By capturing a wider range of products under BIS certification, even small modifications can be scrutinized, thus tightening control over imports and reducing the likelihood of substandard materials entering the market,” he added.

Apart from standards, the government is also looking at duty protection for domestic steelmakers. Already the steel ministry is planning to take industry inputs and put it before directorate general of safeguards for necessary duty action to check dumping. Also, anti-dumping duty had been imposed on certain stainless steel grades.

India, which used to be a net exporter of steel, turned into a net importer by the end of last fiscal and the trend has continued for the current fiscal too. These cheaper imports have put pressure on prices impacting the revenue of steel companies.

How To Identify Real Gold? Check Purity With This Method

suimt — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 11:04:22 +0000

Last Updated:October 26, 2024, 16:35 IST

To protect consumers, the government mandates specific standards, including hallmarking for authenticity.

Know Your Gold: How to Verify Purity and Avoid Counterfeits

Gold investment has been a valued tradition in India for centuries, embodying wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. In Indian culture, gold is frequently given as a gift during festivals and special occasions. Physical forms of gold investment include jewellery, coins, and bars, which can be purchased from banks, jewellery stores, and authorised dealers.

However, due to the risk of counterfeit products, buyers are encouraged to buy only from reputable sellers. To protect consumers, the government mandates specific standards, including hallmarking for authenticity.

What is Hallmarking?

According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), hallmarking is the accurate assessment and official recording of the precious metal content in jewellery. In India, hallmarking is currently mandatory for gold and silver and serves as an official guarantee of purity.

As per BIS Rules 2018, if a consumer’s hallmarked jewellery is found to have a purity lower than stated, they are entitled to compensation at twice the difference in value, calculated based on the purity deficit and weight of the item, along with testing charges.

Since 1st July 2021, each hallmarked item has been required to include a 6-digit HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification). The hallmark now comprises three identifiers: the BIS logo, the article’s purity, and the HUID, each ensuring traceability and authenticity.

Verifying Hallmarked Jewellery

Consumers can verify hallmarked jewellery by checking the HUID number on the BIS CARE app, available on both Android and iOS. This app provides comprehensive information, including the jeweller’s registration number, the article’s purity, its type, and details of the hallmarking centre.

Testing Unhallmarked Jewellery

If you have unhallmarked gold, you can have its purity verified at any BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC), which provides priority testing services and issues a detailed test report. This report confirms the purity of your jewellery and can be useful if you decide to sell it.

Gold Purity Test Fees

For up to 4 items: Rs 200
For 5 or more items: Rs 45 per item

A list of BIS-recognised AHCs is available on the BIS website under the hallmarking section. When bringing in jewellery, consumers can have up to 10 pieces tested as a mixed lot. Testing is done in the consumer’s presence to ensure transparency in weighing and assessment.

Consumers can check detailed guidelines here

BIS tightens screws on food hygiene standards as global food trade, foreign travel grow

Aseem — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:13:44 +0000

This development comes as growing global food trade and foreign travel are changing consumption patterns and increasing the risk of food-borne illnesses spreading across borders.

The effort to ensure that Indian food products meet the highest hygiene standards, both domestically and internationally, arises against the backdrop of increasing cases of Indian food consignments being rejected.

“The BIS has updated the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) framework to carefully monitor critical points along the supply chain, such as raw material sourcing, processing, packaging and distribution, where contamination or safety risks may occur,” said the first person.

The updated HACCP framework identifies, evaluates and controls potential hazards at specific points in the food production process.

A case in point is meat processing, where HACCP ensures safe cooking temperatures to eliminate E-coli, a type of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals.

Also read | Nearly 12% of Indian-tested spices fail FSSAI quality and safety standards: Report

Similarly, in dairy, it controls pasteurization to kill listeria and salmonella, and in canned goods, HACCP prevents botulism through sterilization.

The export of meat, dairy and poultry products was worth $4.53 billion in FY24, marking a 12.4% increase from $4.03 billion in FY23. The rise in meat, dairy and poultry exports can be attributed to increasing global demand, improved processing standards, expanded market access and government incentives supporting agricultural exports.

In seafood, the framework eliminates parasites via proper freezing. India’s seafood exports recorded a growth of 2.67% in volume terms but a decline of about 8.8% in value during the last financial year, according to data from the commerce ministry.

Export volumes increased to 1,781,602 tonnes, worth $7.36 billion, in 2023-24, compared to 1,735,286 tonnes worth $8.07 billion in 2022-23, the data showed.

Meanwhile, the demand for Indian processed food is rising worldwide, and over the past few years, Indian ready-to-eat (RTE) food items have experienced remarkable growth in exports, especially to developed economies such as the US, the UK, Australia and Canada.

RTE food exports include breakfast cereals, sweets and snacks, biscuits and confectionery, cane jaggery and wafers. India’s exports of RTE foods have more than doubled, from $739.64 million in FY19 to $1.52 billion in FY24, according to data from the commerce ministry.

Also read | FSSAI issues SOP for dairy operators to check milk contamination and adulteration

In India, the market in RTE meals is expected to grow by 45% from 2021 to 2026, reaching $64 billion, as per SATS, a leading in-flight catering service provider that publishes research papers on the RTE food segment.

“By aligning with global norms, the BIS seeks to create a more robust framework for food safety, benefiting both consumers and the broader food industry,” said the second person.

According to an Invest India report, India’s food processing sector is one of the largest in the world, and its output is expected to reach $535 billion by 2025-26.

Additionally, the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Economic Impact 2023 report states that international tourist arrivals are expected to reach 30.5 billion by 2028. This increase will significantly boost food demand and stimulate growth for local producers and suppliers.

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The introduction of new food standards will enhance the quality and safety of food products, improving consumer confidence. Furthermore, these standards will help businesses cater to diverse culinary preferences, ultimately benefiting the food sector as a whole.

Queries sent to the consumer affairs ministry and BIS remained unanswered until press time.

“The BIS revamping its food hygiene code of practice is a significant step toward enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian food exports. By aligning with the updated HACCP system, this initiative will not only boost consumer confidence in Indian products but also ensure higher health standards, benefiting both domestic and international markets. Arising needs to implement clean field/farm practices those are detrimental to health and food hygiene,” said Ravin Saluja, director, Sterling Agro Industries Ltd (Nova Dairy).