The production of quality of toys has been The Quality Control Order issued by the BIS has been come into effect since January 1.
January 08, 2020
The government has made BIS quality standards mandatory for toys from January 1 to curb cheaper and low-quality imports, Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal said, even as he stressed that it does not want to stop overseas shipments or close international engagement.
Quality standards have been made compulsory to ensure that local and imported toys are of high quality, he said, adding that the government has no intention to become an impediment for the domestic industry.
Addressing an event marking the 74th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Goyal said the compulsory quality standards have been imposed in a bid to curb the import of cheaper toys, which are hazardous to children’s health. The minister, however, added that the government does not want to stop imports or “close international engagement.” “We want to only make sure that what comes to the door is of high quality and what made inside our door is even made of better quality,” he added.
The minister shared that the local toy industry opposed when the government decided to make quality standards compulsory for toys. This was because the industry was hardly manufacturing and gradually become importers.
The Toys (Quality Control) Order issued by the BIS was to come into effect from September 1, 2020 but was postponed on the industry’s demand. The order mandates that all toys and materials designed or intended for use in play by children below 14 years of age shall be certified by BIS. In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address had said India has the talent and ability to become a global hub for toys and called upon startups and entrepreneurs to “team up for toys”.
“When we talk about quality control, the world should have confidence that the made in India products are 100 percent good,” he added. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Raosaheb Danve, Consumer Affairs Secretary Leena Nandan, and BIG DG Pramod Kumar Tiwari were also present at the event.
