April 23, 2015: UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a premier safety science company, has been successfully audited and accredited for testing portable cells and batteries by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Expertise from the global UL team helped UL in Bangalore meet the requirements of Indian standard IS16046 and requirements of CRO accreditation by BIS. This accreditation makes UL facility the foremost testing and accreditation agency for small cells and batteries used in medical equipment, industrial equipment and communication equipment in India.
Per TRAI reports, 930.2 million cell phones were operating in India last September and estimates 5.88 million more are added every month. With these market projections, Indian market for portable batteries and cells is expected to grow exponentially in next few years.
BIS has defined the safety standards under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods Order, 2012, issued by the Indian Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeiTY). To curb infiltration and usage of non-compliant electronic goods and to ensure consumer safety, BIS has made it mandatory for 30 product categories to comply with the applicable Indian safety standards and mandatory registration, before they are imported to, traded, distributed, or sold in India.
This capacity expansion and technical excellence is driven by the compulsory registration scheme (CRS) mandate by DeiTY. All manufacturers need to have the IS 16046 certification by Aug. 13, 2015, and UL is positioned to be the foremost facility in India, possessing the technology, capacity and capability to carry out this process for the volume of products that will be expected to hit the market. UL’s consumer technology teams across different regions are working with the Bangalore UL facility to ensure the best support for UL’s customers.
UL’s 40,000-square-foot advanced comprehensive testing laboratory at Bangalore is approved under the Laboratory Recognition Scheme with OSL (6120526) by the BIS (Bureau of India Standards). Completely designed on the ”lean” concept and a sophisticated FM 200-based fire protection system, the facility also allows customers to remotely witness all scheduled testing through online media with its integrated data acquisition and archival systems. The first and only multinational company to acquire this accreditation in India, UL facility will be uniquely placed to meet the expected spike in demand for batteries certification over the next few months.
“Batteries are seen as a potential hazard, and in India, DeitY already has listed 30 products under CRS. The list is expected to grow year on year. UL in India has been a significant partner in this journey, and has satisfied all the requirement criterion set by DeitY and BIS for accreditation, and we will continue to cater to this growing market,” said Suresh Sugavanam, managing director and vice president of UL South Asia, speaking of the achievement.
About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for more than 120 years. Its nearly 11,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain.
