A breather to electronics firms during festive season
The three-month extension gives a relief to the electronics firms that would otherwise not have been able to import or sell products during the festive season. However, it is speculated that the January 3 deadline will be further extended, in case, general elections are announced earlier
By Srabani Sen
Wednesday, October 09, 2013: Manufacturers and importers of electronic products have heaved a collective sigh of relief as the Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY) has given companies three months more to get the compulsory government clearance to sell electronic goods. The government has extended the deadline for electronics manufacturers to submit their products to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for certification to January 3, 2014.
This comes as a good news to these firms that would otherwise have not been able to import or sell products during the festive season. However, the industry speculates that the January 3 deadline will be further extended, in case, general elections are announced earlier.
Welcoming the decision to extend the deadline for the Requirement for Compulsory Registration Order 2012 for the third time, Anwar Shirpurwala, executive director, Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT), said, “…this decision would help companies to maintain the required supply of products in the market and consumers can conveniently opt for products of their choice, further allowing companies to provide exciting festive discounts to customers.”
What does it mean
This allows companies that have already applied for certification to sell their products in the market, even though they have not got BIS’ certification.
Considering that some manufacturers and importers have not yet received registration numbers from BIS, DeitY had put in place an interim mechanism…,” an official release said. The registration letter (of the application) issued by BIS shall be suffice for the purpose of clearance of such consignments by customs/ excise till January 3, 2014.
However, the needed markings shall be placed by the manufacturer/ local representatives of the manufacturing units before placing such goods into markets,” DeitY said in a statement. DeitY has clarified that this extension is now available only to manufacturing units that submit their products for testing to BIS recognised labs as per the provision of the Compulsory Registration Scheme.
To facilitate smooth implementation, currently, the labelling of the registered products has also been allowed at the importers/manufacturers warehouses.
Earlier orders
The Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012, notified by DeitY, was scheduled to come into force with effect from April 3, 2013. It meant that no manufacturing, import, storage or sale of electronics products can be done without being registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This date was extended to July 3, 2013, then to October 3, 2013, and now till January 3, 2014.
DeitY’s initiative to facilitate testing
Refusing to comment on the development, Debdas Goswami, scientist-F and head, Electronics & IT, BIS, said that all BIS labs are occupied with the work of testing for the above mentioned certification.
The mandatory registration for more than 15 electronic product categories has generated a huge demand for testing of electronic products. More demand is expected as new products are launched and the list of products that require BIS certification is expanded by DeitY. In view of the shortage of testing labs in the country to cater to this huge demand, DeitY has approved a scheme for setting up/upgrading existing testing laboratories. The scheme aims to strengthen the available testing infrastructure and to expand the network of test laboratories in the country.
Electronics Bazaar, South Asia’s No.1 Electronics B2B magazine
