India is dependent on imports of certain agricultural products

The most frequently imported agricultural products into India are vegetable oils, pulses, fresh fruit, raw cashew nuts, raw sugar, raw cotton and spices. Together, the value of these goods accounts for almost 84 percent of all agricultural imports. Since, according to the relevant ministries, vegetable oils account for the largest share of imports, a program called the “National Mission for Oilseeds and Oil Palm” was introduced. Increasing the volume of production and the yield and productivity of crops are the top priorities to reduce India’s dependence on imports of agricultural products.

Numerous government support programs have already been set up for the individual categories of oilseeds, cereals, pulses, fruits and spices. These aim, among other things, at security of food supply (National Food Security Mission, NFSM), NFSM especially for oilseeds and oil palm, Green Revolution for the East of India (BGREI), research in commercial horticulture and improvement of soil quality and health. In addition to government initiatives, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and public universities in the field of agriculture have started a number of projects to improve varieties and hybrid breeding to increase production and productivity. The NFSM oil crop and oil palm support program provides direct support to farmers. Concrete assistance includes distribution of certified seeds and seedlings, demonstrations, integrated pest management and control, pesticides, agricultural machinery, farmer training, irrigation equipment and local initiatives to promote the cultivation of oilseeds. FSSAI certification is required for all agricultural and food products offered on the Indian market. We would be happy to advise you on the procedure for an India certification and carry it out for you. Contact us for a free consultation without any obligation.

If you have questions about FSSAI certification or any other product certifications for the Indian market (BIS certification, PESO, TEC, WPC certification) please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

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For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

India hosts research summit for solar technology

The World Solar Technology Summit (WSTS) was organized by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and took place in September 2020 as a virtual conference focusing on India. During the conference, stakeholders from research, industry, business and politics discussed the current status of solar technology and how to expand its application in the future. In his opening speech, India’s Prime Minister Modi repeated that five years ago, the world community agreed to slow down global warming by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. India has largely implemented this declaration of intent and has the lowest CO2 emissions per capita in the world. Nevertheless, Modi continued, the expansion of renewable energies will be pushed forward.

 

 

Over the past five years, India has increased its renewable energy capacity by a factor of 2.5 and solar energy capacity by a factor of 13. On a global scale, India ranks fourth in the production of renewable energy. 35 percent or 134 gigawatts of India’s total energy needs are generated from renewable energy. The government plans to increase the amount to 220 gigawatts by 2022. Decentralized energy supply in particular is expected to play a role in the future. To this end, the Indian government has introduced a support program called “KUSUM”. Within the framework of the project, around 2.8 million water pumps in agriculture and in rural areas are to be converted from diesel engines to solar power.

The co-organizer of the virtual summit, the International Solar Alliance (ISA), is an international organization for intergovernmental cooperation in solar technology. The ISA was founded by India and France in the presence of the UN Secretary General during the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015. The main goal of the organization is to generate 1000 gigawatts from sunlight and to facilitate investments of over 1000 billion US dollars in solar energy by 2030. As of June 26, 2020, the ISA’s declaration of intent was signed by 86 countries. The headquarters of ISA is located in Gurugram in the Indian state of Haryana. In India, solar photovoltaic systems, equipment and components are subject to BIS certification. BIS certification is comparable to CE certification but with some important differences.

Since 2012, the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

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For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

India founds space agency INSPACe to promote investment from industry

Recently, the government established the Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorization Centre (INSPACe) to promote and coordinate private and industrial investment in space. The new coordination center operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Space. Companies and institutions that are participants in an INSPACe project can use the existing infrastructure of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The proposal to establish a new space center was put to the government by scientific circles and the recent decision was welcomed accordingly.

ISRO’s former private subsidiary, New Space India Limited (NSIL), has been incorporated into the new center. Its tasks include the construction of launch vehicles and payload transport, the construction of satellites, space services and technology transfer. Currently, more than 500 private companies in the fields of materials research, electronic and mechanical components as well as system development and integration are working with ISRO. The responsible Minister of Space Affairs assured the companies involved in INSPACe that they would be able to use government research facilities specializing in aerospace, which are only available in India in a few cases, for an appropriate fee.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has an annual budget of 1.9 billion US dollars and employs around 17,000 people. It has successfully launched 319 satellites from 33 countries into space, launched 117 space missions and carried out 77 launch trials for testing purposes. ISRO operates two space centers for the launch of rockets, a third one is planned. Since 2005, MPR International GmbH has been supporting companies worldwide with certifications for the Asian market. We currently offer these for India, China, Taiwan and South Korea. Indian certifications such as AIS (ARAI), BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO are part of our service portfolio. We offer certification services for all product areas. We have developed particular expertise in the automotive, medical technology, electrical, mechanical engineering, telecommunications and IT sectors. Our experienced international team will be happy to answer your questions about Indian certifications and is available to you at any time.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
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Stakeholders of the Indian steel and automotive industry meet with Minister

On October 2, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Steel and Petroleum, met with representatives of the Indian steel and automotive industry. The topic of discussion was the role of the steel industry as a supplier to Indian automobile manufacturers and its future-ready orientation. The Minister explained that numerous reforms have already taken place to support the steel and automotive industry. He is certain that the industry is well prepared for future requirements of the domestic market. His ministry will continue to pursue the #MakeInIndia strategy and promote the establishment of companies and the creation of jobs.

Furthermore, a roadmap was worked out to promote Indian steel production, especially for the automotive industry, and to introduce a program to improve the quality of products. The Indian steel industry is a diverse and vibrant industry with numerous levels of decision makers within the value chain. The Minister suggested that each industry representative should contribute their experience so that the entire sector can benefit. To this end, meetings are to be held in future with the Ministry, the private sector and companies with state shareholding. After China, India is the world’s second largest producer of steel, producing around 106,000 tons of steel in 2019. 20 percent of this comes from state-owned companies, the rest is produced by private companies such as Tata Steel or ArcelorMittal. The steel industry accounts for 2 percent of India’s GDP and employs more than 600,000 workers.

Iron and steel products can be exported from India without restrictions, the quantity has been around 5 million tons annually in recent years. In India, steel products must be certified voluntarily or mandatory according to BIS guidelines. BIS stands for the Bureau of Indian Standards and is the national Indian certification body under the umbrella of the Indian Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food & Public Distribution. Product certification according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been in place since July 2013 and is intended to guarantee quality, safety and reliability to third parties. MPR International GmbH – India Certification will be pleased to support you in the BIS certification process and will be at your disposal for any questions you may have.

Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Indian authority BIS to establish new quality standards for 371 products by March 2021

In order to restrict imports of inferior and non-essential goods, including those from China, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has submitted a draft for mandatory quality standards for 371 products to the Ministry of Commerce. The BIS plans to make the standards mandatory by March 2021. The 371 products cover several industries, ranging from steel products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical appliances to furniture and toys. During a virtual conference, the head of the BIS, Tiwari, said that once the specifications have been defined, these new quality standards will be made binding and their enforcement will also be monitored more strictly than before.

The ministries concerned are currently identifying the most important products from the Ministry of Commerce’s list and handing them over to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for the preparation of the corresponding standards. In selecting the individual products, the ministries’ proposals, the annual import volume and already existing standards were taken into account. The Cabinet Secretary of the Indian Parliament supervises the process, the selection of products and the timely introduction of the standards by March 2021.

Meanwhile, the BIS has announced that it will conduct stricter controls and has stationed personnel at the country’s major ports who will work closely with the customs authorities. BIS officials will be examining random samples of imported goods directly at the port, according to BIS Director Tiwari. To ensure the quality of imported products, the BIS will increasingly carry out unannounced inspections of factories and markets. Specifically, Tiwari said they plan to increase the number of audits from the current 20,000 per year to 100,000. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national body for industry standards. So far it has introduced 20,866 voluntary and 358 mandatory product standards. Product certification according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was introduced in July 2013 and is intended to guarantee quality, safety and reliability to third parties. We would be pleased to assist you with BIS certification and are also available to answer any questions you may have. MPR International GmbH – India Certification offers you a complete package for BIS certification, where you will be optimally supported.
Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Indian government calls on BIS to set binding quality standards for imports

The Indian government has asked the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to set binding standards in accordance with international norms for the import of goods. The project could have an impact on the import of Chinese goods that are not considered necessary. These include all products that can be produced in India in an identical or equivalent manner. Recently, the Ministry of Finance submitted a list to the BIS of imported goods to which certain quality standards are to be applied in future. A spokesman for the BIS said that the authority is currently reviewing the existing standards and will make changes if necessary.

India imports goods from about 11,500 product groups. The annual leaders are crude oil, gold, electronic goods, fertilizers, machine components, plastic products, steel, toys and pharmaceuticals. The BIS is currently working on technical guidelines for at least half of the products to ensure the quality of imports and domestic products. First of all, this is to be done for 400 products. In India there are about 25,000 quality standards for a wide variety of products and services, but only about 150 of these are mandatory for manufacturers. It is assumed that China will be most affected by the stricter standards, since most of the cheap imports come from there.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national body for industry standards under the umbrella of the Ministry of Consumer Protection. The tasks of the BIS are the labelling and certification of products. The BIS has recently revised its website and added information on quality standards as well as international norms. In addition, the Minister of Consumer Protection, Paswan, presented a mobile app of the BIS and two other applications that consumers and industry representatives can use to find out about BIS certifications and standards. Product certification in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been in place since July 2013 and is intended to guarantee quality, safety and reliability to third parties. We will be pleased to assist you with BIS certification and are also available to answer any questions you may have. MPR International GmbH – India Certification offers you a complete package for BIS certification, where you will be optimally supported.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Extension of mandatory BIS certification scheme for electronic products

Last week, on October 01, 2020, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) announced the implementation of the 5th phase of the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). Within the next six months, the products added in the new phase must be fully BIS certified in order to be exported to India or distributed in the country.

The following products have been added to the certification catalog in Phase 5:

Product Category	Indian Standard
Wireless Microphone	IS 616:2017
Digital Camera	IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010
Video Camera	IS 616:2017
Webcam (finished product)	IS 616:2017
Smart Speakers (with and without display)	IS 616:2017
Dimmers for LED Products	IS 60669-2-1: 2008
Bluetooth Speakers	IS 616:2017

 
In April 2020 the fourth phase of the certification came into effect with a six-month transition period. Due to various factors that led to some delays there was an extension of the deadline until April 2021. Consequently, the 4th and 5th phases will be implemented at the same time.
Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Tightened customs controls delay import of courier shipments

Postal and courier shipments from abroad and declared as gifts have long been suspected by the authorities of using this method to avoid customs duties and import tax. The investigators are particularly interested in e-commerce platforms from China such as Shein or Alibaba. Deliveries from the fashion provider Shein, for example, were confiscated in recent weeks and not delivered to the recipients. Due to stricter controls, customs clearance of all shipments has been delayed. The locations affected were Bengaluru (Bangalore), Delhi and Hyderabad.

The Association of Indian Export Organizations filed a complaint with the Ministry of Taxation and Finance, which is responsible for customs clearance. They fear that the delays could have a negative impact on the export economy. In a statement, an official of the customs authority admitted that there have been delays due to internal restructuring. In this case, the Express Industry Council handed over customs clearance to Indian customs. After now 10 days with intensified customs controls, the situation at ports, airports and logistics centers has returned to normal, according to a spokesman for Indian Customs. Previously, the authorities checked and opened all shipments from China without exception.
MPR International GmbH – has been accompanying market leaders of numerous industries for many years with their certification projects in Asian markets. Thanks to our efficient working methods and our excellent relations in India, our customers can always meet their deadlines for the start of series production or market launch in India. In addition to certifications, we offer a customs service for India. Sometimes a company needs to import a newly developed product for research or a machine for testing or other purposes to India. Should your product actually require a specific certification for import, you can still, under certain circumstances, import your product into India. We are happy to assist you in the import process and in verifying if your products require certification in India.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
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Indian automotive market could recover faster than other markets

The Indian automotive market continues to be robust and could recover faster than other markets, said SS Kim, managing director of Hyundai Motor India in an interview. He sees a short-term upswing during the Indian holidays in autumn, but sales figures will not return to pre-coronavirus levels until the beginning of next year. Only this month Hyundai has resumed production at its Chennai plant. Initially, production will be run in two shifts and an additional shift will be added as needed. Due to the corona virus, there are still restrictions in the supply of components and the corresponding skilled and unskilled labor.

Managing Director Kim sees a change in consumer behavior in India from public transport to own vehicles. He predicts a flourishing trade in used cars and a stronger demand for small cars. “Hyundai India has a long-term product strategy and we will continue to maintain this after the coronavirus crisis. Our goal has always been to make vehicles safer and to provide them with technological innovations that set us apart from our competitors,” Kim said. Hyundai is also hoping to benefit from the recent government stimulus measures for the automotive industry and its suppliers.
The government intends to use the funding to build an improved domestic supplier industry and establish several industrial centers. This is intended to promote economic growth on the one hand and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers on the other. In order to encourage consumers to buy a new car, a reduction in value-added tax or wage and income tax is under discussion. The automotive industry is also calling for a scrapping bonus. The Hyundai managing director praised the support of local governments in the area of logistics and freedom of movement of the workforce with regard to the current coronavirus situation in India.
Vehicles in India are subject to the corresponding technical automotive standards, known as Automotive Industry Standards or AIS for short. These are based on the UNECE standards. The Automotive Industry Standards are issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the ministry responsible for regulating the automotive sector in India. AIS certification is required for automotive components. The process of AIS certification according to the Indian AIS (Automotive Industry Standard) can be challenging and complex. We are happy to support you in the AIS certification process and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

Nissan plans to launch 8 new models in Africa, the Middle East and India

Car manufacturer Nissan recently unveiled its plans to launch eight new models in Africa, the Middle East and India. This is part of a four-year strategy, taking into account the overall restructuring of the group, a Nissan spokesperson said. The new business plan focusing on these regions is in line with the global strategy of rationalizing and strengthening the core business with successful models. Africa, the Middle East and India together account for approximately 10 percent of the global automotive market.

Part of the restructuring plan is to strengthen the existing presence and cooperate with partners for the production of the vehicles in South Africa, Egypt, India and Nigeria. As part of the four-year plan, Nissan aims to optimize its regional product range and reduce local manufacturing costs by approximately 20 percent. According to Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta, at least one SUV is among the eight new models. According to Gupta, mid-range SUVs are particularly popular in India.
The company is also considering integrating the new production sites for the export of vehicles into the Nissan group strategy. With appropriate capacity utilization and local suppliers, this could also reduce manufacturing costs. Last month, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida presented the group’s global restructuring plans. These plans include sustainable growth, solid finances and a profit at the end of fiscal 2023.
India operations are subject to the relevant technical automotive standards, known as Automotive Industry Standards or AIS for short. These are based on the UNECE standards. The Automotive Industry Standards are issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the ministry responsible for regulating the automotive sector in India. AIS certification is required for automotive components. The process of AIS certification according to the Indian AIS (Automotive Industry Standard) can be challenging and complex. We are happy to support you in the AIS certification process and are always available to answer your questions.