Shri B.L. Verma, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, visited the Southern Regional Laboratory (SRL) of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Chennai, yesterday.
The Minister was accorded a traditional welcome by Shri M.A.J. Vinod, Scientist-F & Deputy Director General (Southern Region), Bureau of Indian Standards, Chennai.
During the visit, the Hon'ble Minister interacted with the officials of BIS and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the organisation in safeguarding consumer interests through standardisation, product certification, hallmarking and the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). He highlighted the significant role of BIS in ensuring that consumers receive quality, safe and reliable products conforming to Indian Standards.
Emphasising the importance of hallmarking, Shri B.L. Verma stated, "BIS Hallmarking of Gold and Silver Jewellery and Artefacts provides consumers with confidence regarding the purity and authenticity of the precious metal. Hallmarking safeguards consumer interests by ensuring transparency and trust, while also encouraging responsible trade practices within the jewellery sector."
The Hon'ble Minister thereafter visited various testing sections of the Southern Regional Laboratory, where he interacted with the Section In-Charges and laboratory officials. He enquired about the testing procedures, laboratory infrastructure and the conformity assessment processes adopted for ensuring compliance of products with the relevant Indian Standards.
As part of the visit, Shri B.L. Verma planted a sapling at the Science Park of the BIS Southern Regional Laboratory, symbolising the commitment towards environmental sustainability.
The Hon'ble Minister appreciated the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and commended the BIS team for their dedicated efforts in strengthening the quality ecosystem, protecting consumer interests and promoting a culture of quality across the country. He also appreciated the arrangements made for the visit.