India to be under threat of a World Trade Organization (WTO) committee of inquiry

Taiwan requested the World Trade Organization (WTO) in September last year to set up a committee of inquiry into India’s import duties on IT goods such as mobile phones. In such a trade dispute, the parties involved have a duty to present their position to the WTO. If this does not happen, the plaintiff can ask the WTO to set up a committee of inquiry. According to information from the WTO, a conciliation meeting was held on 21 November 2019, but it failed.

Meanwhile, the European Union has initiated a similar procedure at the WTO against India. By imposing import duties on mobile phones, the EU accuses India of violating WTO guidelines that require India not to impose such duties. Several countries, including the EU, Singapore, Canada, China, Taiwan and Thailand, have joined the case on the grounds that India’s actions are restricting their trade interests. The European Union has also extended the scope of the complaint from mobile phones and their components to other products such as mobile transmitters, integrated circuits and optical instruments. In India, the Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) is the competent authority when it comes to TEC certification for telecommunications products. From 1991 to 2019, TEC certification was still possible as a voluntary product registration. Since 2019, however, a mandatory test certification of telecommunications equipment has been in force. We will be happy to support you with TEC accreditation and are also available to answer any questions you may have.

We will be happy to assist you with TEC accreditation and are also available to answer any questions you may have. Call us directly (+ 49-69-2713769261) or send us an E-mail.
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For further information on TEC certification, please read our free information package “TEC Certification – The Booklet“.
Information on the certification of vehicle components can be found here: AIS/TAC Certification.

India plans to extend certification scheme for chemical products such as phenol

India plans to further expand the certification requirements for certain chemicals and petrochemicals, such as phenol and melamine. So far, there are very few domestic producers of these chemicals and the country is heavily dependent on imports. The new regulation is intended not only to boost domestic production, but also to ensure the safety and quality of imported products into India. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, responsible for these products, will publish a list of all affected products soon. The announcement has been expected, but seems to be delayed due to the current pandemic.

At this time the certification can be obtained on a voluntary basis. This is recommended, since a certification period of 6-8 months is expected and the regulation will be implemented 90 days after the announcement. Currently no factory inspections can be carried out, which leads to further delays. The certification process includes product tests and a factory inspection by an Indian auditor. In addition, the plant must have appropriate test facilities on site. These requirements are described in the Indian standard (for example applicable standard for phenol is IS 538: 2000).
In addition, an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) is required for certification. If there is a subsidiary in India or an importer/dealer, they can be used as the authorized representative. If not, a third party will need to be appointed.
After successful completion, the BIS certificate will be issued and the products can be marked with the ISI logo accordingly. The BIS license is initially valid for one year only and usually requires an annual factory inspection to maintain it. After the first two years, the validity of the license is extended to two years. In addition, annual marking fees must be paid.
Please contact us to check if your product(s) is affected by the new regulation or for any questions you may have. We will gladly check, without obligation, if there is a BIS certification requirement for your products.
Please send us an email or call us at +49-69-2713769261.
For more information regarding the BIS certification, please read our free information booklet “BIS Certification – The Booklet“.

The Indian PESO has presented guidelines for the formulation of environmentally friendly fireworks to the industry

The Indian Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) presented the new guidelines for the formulation of environmentally friendly fireworks to the Supreme Court in early March 2019. Corresponding details will be made available to manufacturers from March. The research on an improved composition of fireworks was a joint effort of the Research Association of Science and Industry (CSIR), the National Research Institute for Environmental Engineering and manufacturers of fireworks and its basic materials. In tests by the PESO with the new formulations, a reduction in particulate matter (PM2.5) of up to 30 percent was achieved.

According to the PESO, the products with the new formulations will be released at the end of April 2019. Production of the fireworks will then start in May. Due to a decision by the Indian government, barium nitrate is no longer permitted as an oxidizing agent; instead, potassium nitrate can still be used. The PESO has conducted successful tests together with manufacturers of fireworks and about 200 manufacturers have signed a MoU to use the new formulations.
However, many undeclared or illegal manufacturers do not carry out quality control of their products. This poses a safety risk to both production and consumers and increases environmental and air pollution, according to a PESO spokesperson. A control system is to be introduced in which the PESO checks the raw material, the production as well as the finished products and provides them with a seal respectively a barcode or QR code. This would make it possible to identify forgeries and the country of origin, India or abroad, beyond any doubt. A court has also banned the production, sale and burning of firework batteries or connected fireworks on the reason that they cause enormous air pollution, noise and waste. The court also mentioned that the noise and smoke emissions of all fireworks must be approved by the PESO. The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) is a subordinate organisation of the Indian Ministry of Trade and Industry. The PESO certification describes the approval program for machines or products that work with gases or explosive substances or are used in their production. Find out in good time and we will check for you without obligation whether your product is subject to approval.
Here you will find further information on our PESO service package.
We would be pleased to support you with PESO certification and are also available to answer your questions at any time. Send us an email or call us at +49-69-2713769261.

India plans close cooperation with South Korea, Germany and China on trade in medical devices

The measure was taken by Prime Minister Modi in view of the sharp rise in the number of coronavirus infections in India in recent days. India is eagerly looking to South Korea, Germany and China to source advanced medical equipment from them and to adopt their crisis management. These countries have successfully reduced the number of new infections through various measures. The Indian foreign missions in the three countries have been commissioned to establish appropriate cooperation with the authorities and for the procurement of the equipment. The search for best practices, innovations, scientific knowledge and medical equipment to contain the pandemic was explicitly called for during a video conference between Prime Minister Modi and all 130 foreign missions.

India is particularly interested in South Korea’s method of mass testing and tracking of infections to prevent the spread of the disease. The South Korean model for detecting, testing and treating sick people has gained worldwide recognition. Unlike many other countries, South Korea has not introduced restrictions on public life or businesses.
China is also mentioned as a partner in combating the crisis, after the country successfully reduced the number of infected patients from over 80,000. India plans to purchase medical equipment from China. The Indian embassy in Beijing has already started negotiations with the local authorities and manufacturers. A spokesperson said they expect the delivery of 10,000 ventilators.
They are also looking into the approach of Germany to commission automobile manufacturers and suppliers to produce ventilators and other medical equipment. The Indian representation in Washington is coordinating with the Trump government on cooperation in laboratory testing to detect new infections. In this context, the Indian Secretary of State Jaishankar and the American Secretary of State Pompeo discussed cooperation between the two countries to successfully combat the pandemic. According to reports, India is working with other nations to find a vaccine against the novel corona virus. In India, the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is responsible for the so-called CDSCO certification and CDSCO approval of all drugs and medical devices on the domestic market. Every year new products are added or existing standards change. Whether a product is subject to CDSCO approval is primarily determined by the ad-hoc announcements of the CDSCO.
Please also be aware that after CDSCO certification, the CDSCO is entitled to conduct Post-Market Surveillance. That means that the authority may at any time request recent test reports or samples to be tested in India.

India allows urgent certification of plant products during the coronavirus crisis

Even during the restrictions in view of the coronavirus crisis, plant products such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, cuttings and seeds can be imported or exported to India. The government has ordered urgent certification in order not to jeopardize the food supply, to boost producers’ sales for export and to ensure the availability of seeds for the coming season. Phytosanitary certificates for export shipments and import releases of plants and plant products will continue to be processed during the emergency situation. A government spokesperson said that around 4000 certificates for export and 1000 releases for import have been issued.

The government is also revising the entitlement to crop insurance and introducing smart sampling to assess crop failures in April and May. Government officials contacted all states and insurance companies in the country to enforce the new rules. This is to ensure that farmers receive their compensation promptly. A specially established crisis centre coordinates the officials in the respective states and monitors the actions of the loss assessors. Most damage to crops and crop failures are caused by unseasonal heavy rain and hail. The usual main crop is wheat, followed by barley, mustard, sesame and peas.
In addition to monitoring crop failures, the government coordinates with farmers, middlemen, wholesalers and cooperatives to ensure smooth transport and distribution of goods and to avoid bottlenecks and food price increases. In addition to the customs authorities, plant products and food are monitored and certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The BIS is the largest of all certification authorities and plays an increasingly important role in the standardization of quality standards. It is to be expected that the BIS will also take over more and more product groups from other authorities. We would be pleased to support you in the BIS certification process and are also available to answer any questions you may have.
Here you can find more information about the AIS certification, BIS certification, WPC certification and TEC certification.
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 2713769150, US: +1 773 654-2673).
You can also download our brochures about the compulsory certifications here.

India will press ahead with the expansion of the mobile satellite network

The Indian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRAI) has issued a position paper recommending the use of satellites for the provision of mobile communications in rural areas. The satellite connection should serve as a backhaul for the mobile phone transmitters and use so-called compact satellite receivers (VSAT). A backhaul is the connection of a subordinate network node, in this case mobile phone transmitters, to a central network node such as a broadband Internet access. Compact satellite receivers (VSAT) usually have a parabolic antenna with a diameter of less than 3.8 meters and support data transmission rates of 4 Kbit/s up to 16 Mbit/s. The systems are to be operated under a special government authorization for a limited number of network providers.

As early as August 2019, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requested the TRAI to create the corresponding framework conditions for the licensing of network operators and the granting of licenses. This should enable network operators to carry out their communications and data transmission via satellites as a backhaul to local satellite receivers and mobile phone transmitters. According to the DoT, this technology is to be used for the provision of Internet and voice connections in rural areas where there is no or insufficient network coverage to date.

Currently, there is no mobile phone service provider in India that covers the entire subcontinent. According to analyses by Speedtest Inc., the provider Reliance Jio has an availability of 98 percent, followed by Airtel and Vodafone with 90 and 85 percent respectively. In a previous press release dated September 2018, Reliance Jio has already announced that it is setting up a satellite communications network with Hughes Communications India Limited (HCIL). The Hughes JUPITER system can provide a 4G/LTE network via satellite link. In India, telecommunications equipment, which may be end-user devices or infrastructure, requires mandatory TEC or WPC certification. We would be happy to advise you whether and which India certification applies to your products and carry out the certification for you.

For more information regarding the WPC certification, please read our free information booklet “WPC Certification – The Booklet“.

For more information about the TEC Certification for telecommunication products, please click here.

Always online: In India, an average of 11 GB per month is consumed on mobile phones

Cheap data volumes, affordable smartphones and the growing popularity of video streaming services and 4G network have helped to increase the average usage of mobile data in India to more than 11 GB per month. This figure was quoted by Nokia, the manufacturer of infrastructure for mobile phones and devices, when it published its Mobile Broadband India Traffic Index report in early January. Total data traffic in India in 2019 has increased by 47 per cent, mainly due to rising user numbers on the 4G network. Data usage on the 4G network accounts for 96 per cent of nationwide traffic, while data usage on the 3G network has seen the sharpest decline to date, at 30 per cent.
A Nokia spokesperson said the annual increase in data volume is 16 percent. He added that data consumption in India is probably the highest in the world, ahead of China, the US, France, South Korea, Japan, Germany and Spain. With 1 GB of data, it is possible to stream about 200 songs or an hour of video. It depends on the quality, standard resolution, HD or Ultra HD, in which the data is transferred.

Although coverage with mobile broadband Internet in India is still relatively low at 47 percent, experts believe that this will be caught up quickly. In comparison, coverage in China is 95 percent and in European countries between 95 and 115 percent. Prices for mobile data in India are among the lowest in the world, with 1 GB of data costing an average of just 7 Indian Rupees (9 cents). The number of users with 4G data is estimated to be 598 million, compared to 44 million with 3G. According to the Nokia report, the amount of data will continue to increase due to higher resolution (4K/8K) video streaming and usage through the ‘Industry 4.0’ initiative. The number of 4G devices has increased 1.5 times from 330 million in 2018 to 501 million today. Indian network operators will have to continue to expand their infrastructure to benefit from this development and to cope with the increasing number of users and data volumes. A WPC license is required for importing all wireless devices into India. The WPC (Wireless Planning & Coordination) is the national broadcasting authority and is part of the Indian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. We will be happy to advise you on WPC certification of your products.
Here you can find more information about the AIS certification, BIS certification, WPC certification and TEC certification.
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 2713769150, US: +1 773 654-2673).
You can also download our brochures about the compulsory certifications here.

New version of IS standard for safety glass

The Indian standard IS 2553 (Part 2) describes the certification of safety glazing of glass used for road transport such as windscreens and window panes. On February 20, 2020 the latest version was published in the Gazette of India and replaced the 1992 version. All safety glazing products falling under this standard must meet the described requirements and will need to be marked with the Standard Mark of the Bureau of Indian standards (BIS).

The updated standard version now includes further glazing materials with additional testing requirements (e.g. abrasion tests and humidity tests).
The standard is linked to the automotive industry standard AIS 037 which describes the procedure for Type Approval and Establishing Conformity of Production for Safety Critical Components.
It will be enforced starting August 2020.
Vehicles and vehicle components for the Indian market require certification in accordance with the Indian AIS (Automotive Industry Standard). The AIS certification process can be a challenging and complex process to navigate alone. Feel free to contact us for a free check, without obligation, if your product is subject to AIS certification.
We can also check the BIS certification requirements for your specific case. You can send us an email or call us any time +49-69-2713769261.
You can find more information about our BIS Service Package and the BIS Certification Process here.
Our free information booklet “BIS Certification – The Booklet“ will also give you an introduction to this topic.
You can find more information on our AIS/TAC Service Package here. For AIS/TAC certification, please find our free information booklet “AIS/TAC – The Booklet“ here.

Indian authorities extend deadline for certification of steel products by another 3 months

The Indian Ministry of Steel has extended the deadline for certification of steel products on 23 April 2020 by three months. The decision was taken due to limitations of the coronavirus situation in India and the rest of the world. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had to shut down its operations and laboratories. The implementation of the new guidelines was therefore postponed by three months, according to the Ministry’s instructions.
The operation of the BIS, their laboratories and also the certification and control of the process does not fall under the category of necessary services under the safety lockdown and quarantine measures, a BIS spokesman said. Some steel products are sourced outside India and are subject to mandatory certification for which business travel is required. Due to the current situation, however, this is not possible for an indefinite period, the BIS continued.

The industry associations are sceptical, however, as to whether a three-month extension of the deadline is appropriate. It is assumed that it will take at least one year to implement the directives. Siddahrta Bothra, the CEO of IQ Minerals & Metals, agrees with this and said BIS inspectors cannot visit foreign suppliers and producers for the next 8 to 10 months due to travel restrictions. Even after a relaxation he sees further delays. The visit of the BIS inspectors is part of the certification according to the legal requirements and the complete process will take at least 8 months, Bothra added.
India imports iron-silicon, iron-nickel alloys as well as hot-rolled flat steel from countries such as Bhutan, Norway and China, among others. The annual import volume is around 300,000 tons, as India can only cover one third of its needs from its own production. The Bureau of Indian Standards, or BIS for short, is a national Indian certification organisation under the umbrella of the Indian Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food & Public Distribution. In addition to many consumer products, raw materials also fall into the category of monitored products. We would be pleased to support you in BIS certification and are also available to answer any questions you may have.

India becomes significantly more attractive as a business location

The Indian Finance Minister Sitharaman informed Parliament at the end of January of the results of an analysis of the domestic economy last year. The country climbed 79 places in a list drawn up by the World Bank regarding trade and business relations. India has thus risen from 142nd place in 2014 to 63rd place in 2019. Countries neighbouring in the ranking include Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. India has improved on 7 out of 10 parameters, with reforms in VAT and insolvency law making a major contribution to India’s rise in the rankings. India has significantly improved the foundations for companies with an improved tariff structure and a more friendly legal situation. Nevertheless, there is still some catching up to do in the areas of business start-ups, registration of properties, tax payments and contract compliance.

Although the number of steps required to set up a business in India has been reduced from 13 to 10 and the duration has been shortened from 30 to 18 days, the government would like to optimise these figures further. For example, the time taken to obtain a building permit has been almost halved from 186 days to 98 days in just five years. For foreign trade, the government wants to improve the standardization of forms and processes as well as the cooperation between different authorities. The creation of a single digital platform is one of the most important goals in the coming years.

Maritime trade has also shown improvements. The time needed for goods handling has been reduced from an average of 4.67 to 2.48 days in the period from 2010 to 2019. A case study for the export and import of electronic goods at Bengaluru airport confirmed that the logistics process there is world-class. Another study found that, surprisingly, importing goods is easier than exporting. This applied to both air freight and container shipping. Importing goods to India often requires specific certification such as AIS (ARAI), BIS, WPC, TEC and PESO. We offer certification services for all product areas and support you with India certification. Our experienced team will be happy to advise you on the appropriate certifications for your products.