MSMEs Want Quality Standards Fixed To Deal With Tariffs’ Regime
The SLCS will play a proactive role to ensure compliance of AP’s MSME goods with such central agencies.
Vijayawada:Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) want quality standards fixed for their goods to compete globally while at the same time dealing with the tariff regimes like the one imposed by the USA under President Donald Trump.
Andhra Pradesh government has acted proactively, recently holding the first meeting of the State Level Committee on Standardisation (SLCS) headed by AP chief secretary. The committee has sought feedback from various stakeholders for fixing standards in manufacture of various products, whether related to agricultural machinery and produce, food items and pharmaceuticals, among others.
There are organisations already existing, like Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that issues hallmarking certifications, such as for gold jewellery and helmets; Indian Standards Institution (ISI) for efficient industrial output; Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for ensuring safety and quality of food; and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for ensuring manufacture of quality pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics.
The SLCS will play a proactive role to ensure compliance of AP’s MSME goods with such central agencies.
MSMEs have proposed for inclusion of AP’s MSME department within the framework of SLCS, so that it can play a crucial role in AP’s economic growth by ensuring strict compliance with the quality norms of Indian as well as global standards, so that they are competitive in the domestic as well as global markets. Moreover, SLCS can help innovation and growth in the MSME sector.
There is another proposal for inclusion of the Department of Technical Education in the SLCS framework, so that Indian standards could be included within the curriculum at engineering, diploma and at ITI levels. This will help students have a deep understanding of compliance with quality and standards while manufacturing engineering goods or providing varied services. Inclusion of standardisation in technical education will also align with the National Education Policy, 2020.
MSMEs have proposed setting up of labs on Indian Standards in educational institutions based on requirement and feasibility, so that students can have first-hand experience while still in their learning stage. and for conduct of massive awareness drives on the need and lacunae in compliance and to issue certifications on Indian Standards.
Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of India president A.P.K Reddy said, “We appreciate AP’s initiative to ensure compliance with Indian standards in manufacture and processing of various products including from MSMEs. This will enhance their quality and export potential, and help our economy grow further.”
It may be mentioned here that the previous YSR Congress government issued the GO in February 2022 to constitute the State-Level Committee on Standardisation in AP. The TD-led NDA coalition brushed this GO up and called for the first meeting of SLCS recently.
