Hyderabad: The Quality Control Order, along with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion headed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has issued orders to make ISI certification mandatory for baby products throughout the state.
A senior enforcement director from the Bureau of Indian Standards Hyderabad, said, “This move by the Central government is directed towards promoting quality of products, which further ensures that health issues among babies are reduced.”
He further stated, “We have received orders with a list of products and items under different categories, and for each of which we shall issue notice regarding the necessary ISI certification done under the Bureau of Indian Standards, which includes baby products.”
When asked about the items and what the harmful material are, the official replied, “Some of the items which have harmful material, and have been asked to get ISI certification are:
Toys: Most of the toys which are imported have lead content. Toddlers have a tendency to keep toys into their mouths, and when the toys contain lead, this can be harmful. The consumption of lead by children in any form can lead to neurological problems, which affects the development of brain, nervous system, and can also cause hormonal imbalance.
Milk powder: If milk powder is not properly packed and processed ruethe moisture content grows in it, which leads to the development of fungal growth.
Fungal growth is not easily identified as the powder forms lumps, but most people think that it formed clumps because of cold storage conditions and this is not true. Consumption of milk powder which has fungus can lead to several disorders related to digestion and sometimes skin too.
Plastic feeding bottle for infants: Here the quality of the plastic used for the manufacture of bottles will be checked to ensure that the plastic does not contain any form of chemicals, which might harm the babies.
Infant milk substitute: These products will be checked to make sure they have enough minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron and other vitamins too. Lack of these can lead to imbalanced growth in children.
