1. ROLE OF CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT IN INDIA
Anil Jauhri
Adviser
Quality Council of India

2. INTRODUCTION
Role of Standards & Conformity Assessment (CA) procedures important in international trade in WTO regime
Necessary to lay down rules and disciplines
TBT Agreement/SPS Agreement/ Agreement on Pre-shipment Inspection
Adoption of international standards – regulation on grounds of health/safety/ environment – market driven voluntary standards and conformity assessment

3. EMERGING STRUCTURE Government
(to enact legislation)
Regulatory Bodies – may be sector specific like Food, Drugs
(to enforce the law)
National Standards Body – Accreditation Body
(vol. stds-linkage to RBs) - (comp of CABs – link to RBs)
Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs)
(voluntary certification/quality assurance
– support to regulation)
Manufacturers and Service providers
Common man – recipient of goods and services

4. INFRASTRUCTURE
Standards setting – BIS (NSB), other voluntary bodies like Agmark – attached to Regulatory Bodies
Domestic Regulatory Mechanism (BIS/Drugs/PFA)
Export regulation/certification system (EIC) for recognition
Conformity assessment bodies (BIS/EIAs/labs/inspection agencies like RITES – govt or pvt))
Accreditation Mechanism (QCI/NABL)

5. EMERGING INDIAN SCENARIO
WG on Quality, Certification and Conformity Assessment of Planning Commission
Good Regulatory Practice – Unbundling of Regulatory Bodies (RBs) from traditional role of all powerful body - doing everything– clear separation between RBs, accreditation bodies, conformity assessment bodies and promotional bodies – Standards setting and conformity assessment by technically competent bodies – upgrade to international standards - regulation of CABs to provide oversight

6. SUPPORT TO REGULATIONS
Conformity assessment essential for effective regulation of quality
Regulations prescribe conformity assessment procedures including mandatory BIS certification – regulation for exports (EIC and others) - Min of Agriculture – Inspection of dairy plants for sanitary and hygienic conditions under MMPO by independent agencies
Integrated Food Law – use of NABL accredited labs –Recognition of agencies for Food safety audits – MFPI’s MoU with QCI to provide accreditation services for GHP/GMP/HACCP
Ministry of Health – regulation on GHP/GMP/HACCP – draft notification on GHP/GMP already issued – compliance checking by accredited agencies

7. SUPPORT TO REGULATIONS
High level committee under Member, Planning Commission – option of 3rd party certification to industry to demonstrate regulatory compliance – Env/OSH/Social Accountability – national/intnl stds – ‘tier 2 certification’ focussed on regulatory compliance
Regulation of Electronics & IT goods for Safety and EMC – initiative of DIT – under BIS Act - 19 products in 1st phase – 9 in 2nd phase – Rules of Compliance being written – provision for recognizing results of manufacturers’ labs if accredited or done under supervision of accredited body

8. VOLUNTARY SECTOR New Initiatives
Certification of service delivery by Public Service Organizations – IS – national programme
Forest certification – MoEF initiating work
Tissue culture production certification – national programme initiated by DBT
Retailer certification
Good SHE Practices in Lead Acid Battery mfg

9. CONCERNS
Worldwide concern about quality of 3rd party certification esp. ISO 9000 – concern in India
QCI quarterly studies on effectiveness of ISO 9000 certifications – CBs ratings on website – voluntary programme
NABCB exercise of client visits in Mar, 2007 – poor quality of certification – 3 CBs under suspension – operating with foreign accreditation?
Need for greater cooperation between ABs
National programmes – IS 15700, GHP/GMP – freedom to deviate from intnl norms – accreditation system to have safeguards
Feedback – actual user not in loop – mechanism to be devised

10. INFORMATION ON ACCREDITATION
QUALITY COUNCIL OF INDIA
2nd floor, Institution of Engineers Building 2, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg NEW DELHI
Tel: /9260/0567/8057
Fax:
Websites :

11. Thank you