1. Product Certification in Developing Countries Testimony of Situation for Certification in Sri Lanka Major B S de Silva Director (Quality Assurance) Sri Lanka Standards Institution

2. Introduction Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) Organization of SLSI Services provided by SLSI

3. Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI),the National Standards Body of Sri Lanka, is a statutory organization established under the Bureau of Ceylon Standards (BCS) Act No.38 of 1964. This Act was repealed by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) Act No.6 of 1984. The Institution presently functions under the purview of the Ministry of Small & Medium Enterprise Development and is governed by a Council of 11 members headed by the Chairman

4. Organization of SLSI At present the activities of the Institution are handled by 9 Technical & 2 Non-technical Divisions headed by Directors.The Director General, who is the CEO, & the 2 Deputy Directors General co-ordinate & supervise the activities of the Institution. The total staff of the Institution stands at 350 of which around 110 members are professionally qualified scientists and technologists.

5. Services provided by SLSI Standards Formulation Certification of Products & Systems Product testing facilities Standards Promotion Inspection of Imported /Exported Products Training Services Information Services Marketing & Promotion of Services provided Industrial Measurement & Calibration Services Consumer Services International co-operation Operation of a National Quality Awards Program

6. History of product Certification Scheme of SLSI Product Certification Programmes Standardization Marks Scheme (1971) Certification Marks Scheme (1980) - (Under the Bureau of Ceylon Standards Act No. 38 of 1964 ) Certification Marks Scheme (1984) - (Under the Sri Lanka Standards Institution Act No. 6 of 1984 ) Certification made compulsory (1993) Re-organization of the Product Certification Scheme (1996) Product Certification Mark – The National Symbol of Quality (2001)

7. Product Certification Programmes Some of the commonly used product certification programmes employed is as follows; Type testing - Where the samples of the product are tested for conformity to a particular standard specification. This gives no assurance of ongoing conformity. Type testing with surveillance of both market and production samples This gives an assurance of the product quality at the point of production and the market for ongoing conformity to asses whether the conformity is affected during distribution and to resolve any non conformities. Type testing and assessment of the quality system with surveillance of the quality system, production and the market This system provides significant flexibility for the conduct of ongoing surveillance so that it gives room to the extent to which the three elements can be adjusted for a given situation.

8. Standardization Marks Scheme (1971) In 1971 Regulations governing the “Standardization Marks Scheme” were framed and gazetted. The following two Ceylon Standards were made compulsory. CS 5:1970 Razor Blades CS 9:1972 Asbestos Cement Sheets

9. Certification Marks Scheme (1980) In 1980 regulations governing the “Standardization Marks Scheme” was repealed and was replaced by the regulations governing the “Certification Marks Scheme” Under this new scheme 20 permits were issued authorizing, the 03 organizations manufacturing these 20 products, to display the “SLS Mark” (July 1980).

10. Certification Marks Scheme Re-launched (1984) Under the New Sri Lanka Standards Institution Act No. 6 of 1984 the product “Certification Scheme” was given wider recognition and publicity.

11. Product Certification Mark made compulsory (1993) In 1993 under the Consumer Protection Act No. 1 of 1979, for 12 items product certification mark was made compulsory. 8 Chemical & Cosmetic products 12 Food products (at present there are 21 products under this category)

12. Product Certification Scheme Re-organized (1996) The Product Certification Scheme was re-organized and upgraded with the inclusion of Quality Management requirements, in line with ISO 9000 standards, made mandatory for the grant of the certification.

13. Product Certification Scheme Re-launched (2001) The Product Certification Mark of the SLSI was declared the “National Symbol of Quality” and the assessment/audit procedures, assessor/auditor qualifications and requirements were upgraded to be in line with the relevant ISO Standards requirements.

14. Product Certification Present Situation Sri Lanka Standards Institution has already extended it’s Product Certification services for the grant of certification for manufacturers in foreign countries. Under this extension of services to foreign manufacturers SLSI has already certified 2 Indian organizations for 4 products. Ordinary Portland Cement ( SLS 107:2002) - 3 LP Gas Cylinders (SLS 1178:1998)- 1

15. MOU between BIS (India) and SLSI (Sri Lanka) In an effort to further improve the Bilateral Co operation between The Bureau of Indian Standards and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution in the fields Standardization and related activities. A Draft MOU was drawn up and is under consideration mainly,to issue Certificates/Licenses/ Marks of Conformity for Products and Management Systems according to their applicable standards and normative documents. This will facilitate the better market access to both countries in the region as well as internationally in the future.

16. Grant of License to use the Mark Manufacturer Market The Mark Sri Lanka Standards Institution Application for the Mark Preliminary Factory Inspection Decision on Granting the License By SLSI Inspectors Permit Sub Committee Reports on Quality System Informed with Conditions of the Scheme Factory Inspections by the Samples for Testing Report to Permit Committee Manufacturer Agrees on Conditions Grant of License to use SLSI and Other Independent Laboratories Conform to Standards

17. Supervisory Control of Marked Products Sri Lanka Standards Institution Periodic Surprise Inspections Samples for Testing SLSI and Other Independent Laboratories Complaints Consumer Market Factory Permit Holder Minor Failure Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Continuation Warned and Continuation of License Cancellation or Suspension of License

18. The Present System The present system of Product Certification in operation in Sri Lanka gives the consumer a third party guarantee, by an independent certification body, regarding the quality of the product and assures that the product meets the requirements of the relevant Sri Lanka Standard Specification.

19. Product Categories - 1980

20. Product Categories - 1989

21. Product Certification 1980 - 2004

22. Product Certification Progress 1980 -2004

23. Product Certification Withdrawals 1980-2004