In pursuance of Subrule 1 of Rule 15 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2018, the Bureau of Indian Standards

## Policy Analysis Report: Notification Regarding Indian Standards (May 6, 2025) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on May 6, 2025, which establishes several new Indian Standards. The core purpose of this notification is to officially institute these new standards, primarily related to plastics and related materials/products. The key finding is the formal adoption of standards aligning with ISO standards in various areas, including compostable plastics, fungal resistance assessment, marine exposure methods, adhesive tapes, antibacterial activity measurement, artificial weathering, and wavelength-dependent degradation of plastics. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of the notification published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on May 6, 2025, pertaining to the establishment of new Indian Standards. This analysis is based solely on the information contained within the provided notification text. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a *New Policy* establishing standards. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective is to formally establish and notify new Indian Standards, primarily relating to plastics and related materials, aligning, in some cases, with existing international standards (ISO). **4. Background and Rationale:** * The notification suggests a need for updated and standardized practices within the Indian industry related to the manufacturing, testing, and assessment of plastics and related materials. The adoption of standards across various areas, including compostability, weathering, and antibacterial properties, likely addresses growing concerns about environmental impact, product performance, and consumer safety. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** As this is a New Policy establishing standards, the main provisions are the formal adoption of the following Indian Standards on May 2, 2025: * **IS 18883:2025:** Trackless Emulsion Specification. * **IS 19109:2025:** ISO 5424:2022 Plastics - Industrial Compostable Plastic Drinking Straws * **IS 19161:2025:** ISO 16869:2008 Plastics - Assessment of the Effectiveness of Fungistatic Compounds in Plastics Formulations * **IS 19162:2025:** ISO 15314:2018 Plastics - Methods for Marine Exposure * **IS 19163:2025:** Pressure Sensitive Adhesive PSA Based Paper Tapes for Packaging Specification. * **IS 19165:2025:** ISO 22196:2011 Measurement of Antibacterial Activity on Plastics and other Non-Porous Surfaces * **IS 19168:2025:** ISO 29664:2010 Plastics - Artificial Weathering Including Acidic Deposition * **IS 19169:2025:** NA ISO 21475:2019 Plastics - Methods of Exposure to Determine the Wavelength Dependent Degradation Using Spectrally Dispersed Radiation. These standards are established on May 2, 2025. The notification indicates that there are no existing Indian Standards being withdrawn concurrently with the establishment of these new standards (indicated by "NA" in the withdrawal column). **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the target audience and stakeholders include: * Manufacturers of plastics and plastic products. * Manufacturers of trackless emulsion * Manufacturers of pressure-sensitive adhesive paper tapes. * Testing laboratories and organizations involved in assessing the properties of plastics. * Industries utilizing plastics in various applications (e.g., packaging, construction). **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency:** The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the responsible agency for establishing and notifying these standards. The Department of Consumer Affairs also has oversight. * **Timelines:** The standards are effective from May 2, 2025. * **Procedures:** The notification references "Subrule 1 of Rule 15 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2018," indicating that the establishment process follows established procedures within the BIS framework. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of establishing these new standards include: * Improved quality and performance of plastic products in the Indian market. * Enhanced consumer safety through standards related to antibacterial properties. * Greater environmental sustainability through standards related to compostable plastics and weathering. * Harmonization with international standards (ISO), facilitating trade and technology transfer. **9. Conclusion:** The notification issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards on May 6, 2025, formally establishes new Indian Standards related to plastics and allied products. These standards address a range of properties, including compostability, fungal resistance, marine exposure, and antibacterial activity. The establishment of these standards is a significant step towards enhancing the quality, safety, and environmental sustainability of the Indian plastics industry.

Key Entities Referenced