## Report on Bureau of Indian Standards Notification Regarding Marking Fees
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on September 21, 2021, concerning marking fees for various Indian Standards (IS). The notification establishes a schedule of fees applicable to different scales of enterprises (Large, Medium, Small, and Micro) for obtaining BIS certification. The core purpose, as inferred from the text, is to define the costs associated with conformity assessment under BIS regulations. This report details the structure of the marking fees, identifies affected stakeholders, and infers potential implementation aspects and expected outcomes.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide an informative overview of a notification issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regarding marking fees for various Indian Standards. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This notification appears to be part of a larger framework of regulations concerning conformity assessment, specifically related to Scheme I of Schedule II of Bureau of Indian Standards Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. The core objective of this particular notification is to establish a clear and structured schedule of marking fees for manufacturers seeking BIS certification for their products.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This notification likely addresses the need for transparent and standardized fees for the BIS certification process. This will ensure clarity for manufacturers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regarding the costs associated with complying with Indian Standards. A well-defined fee structure is crucial for the effective implementation of the BIS conformity assessment regulations and encourages broader adoption of Indian Standards.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This is a notification of a *new* schedule of fees, so the report must focus on the provisions of the *entire* provided text.
* **Marking Fees Schedule:** The notification establishes a detailed schedule of marking fees for a list of Indian Standards.
* **Enterprise Size Differentiation:** The fees vary based on the scale of the enterprise: Large Scale, Medium Enterprises, Small Unit and Micro Enterprises. For each IS standard, a "Unit rate applicable" for Large Scale enterprises, then "SLAB1" and "SLAB2" fees for Medium Enterprises, and finally "SLAB3" for Small Unit / Micro Enterprises.
* **Fee Structure:** For most standards, there are two slabs (SLAB1, SLAB2) for Medium enterprises. The fee structure seems to incentivize larger production volumes (or potentially sales), with a higher rate applicable to the first quantity (SLAB1) and a lower rate for subsequent quantities (SLAB2). All other enterprises pay the same amount. There also appears to be a column for remaining quantity, but its values are always set to 0.
* **Effective Date:** The marking fees are effective starting from either June 16, 2021, or September 3, 2021, depending on the specific standard.
* **Standards Covered:** The notification covers a range of Indian Standards, as identified by their IS number and year of publication (e.g., IS 1772:1993, IS 12146:1987). Each standard is associated with a specific unit of measurement (e.g., Sqm, MT, Pair, Piece, Litre, Valve, Meter, No., Ton).
* **Zero Rates**: The text includes columns indicating a rate for the remaining quantity and an overall zero value. The purpose of these columns is unclear from the provided information.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience for this notification is manufacturers seeking BIS certification for their products, particularly those falling under the categories of Large Scale, Medium Enterprises, Small Units and Micro Enterprises. Other stakeholders include:
* Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
* Certification bodies
* Consumers (indirectly)
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the responsible agency for implementing and enforcing these marking fees, as indicated in the notification.
* **Procedures:** The notification does not explicitly detail the procedures for payment of marking fees. However, it can be inferred that manufacturers will need to pay the applicable fees as part of the BIS certification process.
* **Timelines:** The notification provides the effective dates for the new marking fees (June 16, 2021, or September 3, 2021), suggesting that manufacturers applying for BIS certification after these dates will be subject to the new fee structure.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The expected outcomes of this notification include:
* **Transparency:** Increased transparency in the costs associated with BIS certification.
* **Standardization:** A standardized fee structure across various Indian Standards and enterprise sizes.
* **Compliance:** Encouragement of broader compliance with Indian Standards through a clearly defined and, for some enterprises, potentially tiered fee structure.
* **Revenue Generation:** Potential revenue generation for BIS through the collection of marking fees, which can be used to support its standardization and certification activities.
**9. Conclusion:**
The BIS notification regarding marking fees is a significant step towards streamlining and clarifying the certification process for manufacturers seeking to comply with Indian Standards. The notification establishes a detailed fee structure that varies based on enterprise size, offering a consistent and transparent framework for conformity assessment. This measure is likely to promote broader adoption of Indian Standards and contribute to improved product quality and safety.
Key Entities Referenced
NEW DELHI: Capital of India, place of publication of the gazette notification
Bureau of Indian Standards: Organization that notifies the marking fee
Department of Consumer Affairs: The department under which Bureau of Indian Standards operates.
Scheme I of Schedule II of Bureau of Indian Standards Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018: Refers to the specific scheme and schedule within the Bureau of Indian Standards Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018, which pertains to marking fees.
Indian Standard: Refers to standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards
IS 1772:1993: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 12146:1987: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17037:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17264:2019: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 14635: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 16112:2013: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 16113:2013: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 8058:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 10631:1993: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 5518:1996: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 15808:2008: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 3117:2004: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17150:2019: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 5758:2020: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 16532:2017: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 16723:2020: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 13450:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 3536:2016: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 5437:1994: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17043:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 15844:2010: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 8052:2006: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17262:2019: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17374:2020: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17261:2019: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 12145:1987: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 2835:1987: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 3565:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 15381:2021: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17153:2019: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 7302:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 1677:2005: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 5149:2020: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 16919:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 16920:2018: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 17566:2021: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 7408:2000: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
IS 16150:2014: Indian Standard number and year of publication.
MAHIM JAIN: Scientist G Dy. Director General Certification at Bureau of Indian Standards