India becomes 13th country authorised for IOLM Certification

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India becomes 13th country authorised for IOLM Certification

India becomes 13th country authorised for IOLM Certification

Industry News
Sep 18,23

The International Organisation of Legal Metrology (IOLM), founded in 1955, serves as an intergovernmental body responsible for crafting model regulations and standards for adoption by legal metrology authorities and the industry.

India becomes 13th country authorised for IOLM Certification

India has attained the esteemed status of being the 13th nation sanctioned to provide certifications for 'measuring and weighing instruments' according to globally recognised standards established by the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (IOLM), headquartered in Paris. This milestone promises to propel domestic exports of such instruments, as an IOLM-approved certificate is currently obligatory for selling weighing and measuring instruments in the international market.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh shared, "Recently, we were offered the opportunity to become an IOLM certificate-issuing authority. Consequently, we now hold the distinction of being the 13th country globally authorised to issue OIML approval certificates."

The roster of countries that share this privilege includes Australia, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Slovakia.

Singh also disclosed that a dedicated division within the ministry will be established to oversee IOLM certification. In the initial stages, a laboratory will be set up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, for testing eight sets of instruments, such as energy meters, water meters, automatic and manual weighing machines, and more. Subsequently, the number of such labs will be expanded. Furthermore, Singh noted that the certification fees in India will be more economical than those in other countries.

This development holds the potential to invigorate domestic exports, as indigenous manufacturers were grappling with delays in obtaining IOLM certificates from foreign nations. Singh remarked, "They were encountering lengthy queues and visa delays. These issues will now be addressed as they can secure IOLM certification within India at a reduced cost."

Domestic manufacturers can now globally export their weighing and measuring instruments without incurring additional testing fees, leading to substantial cost savings.

Singh disclosed that India had exported measuring instruments worth Rs 600 crore in the past three years, and these figures are projected to soar with India becoming an IOLM certificate-issuing entity. Additionally, India can generate foreign exchange by issuing IOLM pattern approval certificates from its certified Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSLs) to foreign manufacturers.

India adheres to IOLM recommendations and protocols for testing and calibrating weights and measures. Reports produced by Legal Metrology's Regional Reference Standards Laboratories are now recognised by IOLM certification authorities.

Paul Dixon, Executive Secretary of IOLM-CS, who also participated from the Paris headquarters, reiterated India's role as an IOLM Certificates Issuing Authority and assured continued collaboration in this endeavour.

Source: moneycontrol.com