Lok Sabha Question No. 2176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Modifications in Standards of Chemicals
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2176

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## MODIFICATIONS IN STANDARDS OF CHEMICALS

2176.  MS. RAMYA HARIDAS: SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk  ekeys]  [kk|  vkSj  lkoZtfud  forj.k  ea=h be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the  legal  and  formal  process  for  changing  or  modifying  the  existing  standards  for  Chemicals/ chemical compounds/products such as Boric Acid under the Bureau of Indian Standards;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Department of Consumer Affairs to strengthen standards for chemical compounds which benefits Indian conditions and businesses;
- (c) whether  any  scientific  study  has  been  conducted  prior  to  changing  the  existing  standards  for chemicals such as Boric Acid to ascertain the safety aspects arising from such changes;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is currently planning to remove the required range of sulphates and chloride additives from Boric Acid by bringing diluted standards or create another grade/sub-grade  of  technical  grade  Boric  Acid  with  different  parameters  for  sulphates  and chlorides; and
- (f) if  so,  the  impact  of  such  a  decision  on  human  health,  environment,  national  security  as  well  as operational sustainability and safety of the end consumer industries?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  : Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2018 contains Rule 15 for Establishment of Indian Standards, Rule 22 for Procedure for establishment of Indian Standards and  Rule 23 for the process  to be followed for  establishing/modifying  the Indian  Standards  for  any  product(s),  including  chemicals,  chemical compounds and products such as boric acid.

Rule  No.  23  relates  to  review,  modification,  withdrawal  of  Indian  standards -  The  Bureau reviews, periodically, at least once in five years, all established Indian standards to determine the need for revision, amendment, reaffirmation or withdrawal of such standards.

The  Bureau  has  the  power  to  provisionally  amend,  by  notification,  such  of  the  provisions  of  an Indian Standard as in its view are necessary for expeditious fulfillment of any of the objectives of the Act and  the  amendments  so  made  are  regularized  without  further  notification  if  the  sectional  committee concerned has on examination, approved the standards as so amended, within a period of six months from the date of the notification.

(b)   :   In order to strengthen Indian Standards, due consultation is carried out with domestic stakeholders in technical committees.

To ensure balanced representation in the Technical Committees, Bureau of Indian Standards makes efforts to ensure that relevant stakeholders representing various interests such as consumers, regulatory and other Government bodies, industry, testing  laboratories  or  calibration  laboratories,  scientists,  technologists  are part of the Technical Committees and also the composition of such Committees are updated periodically. Various Stakeholder Sensitization Programmes have been conducted from time to time in order to generate awareness amongst the stakeholders.

(c) & (d) : Rule  17  of  BIS  Rules  2018 states  that  every  scientific  study  is  to  be  considered  by  a Sectional  committee  duly  constituted  under  the  rule  comprising  of  concerned  officers  of  the  Bureau, experts and  all stakeholders. The relevant experts and stakeholders bring with them technical knowledge and know how required for revising/formulating various Standards.

For  example,  in  case  of  Boric  Acid  Standard,  IS  10116  -  technical  inputs  from  various  Research Institutions  (ICT  Mumbai,  CSMCRI),  Academia  (IIT  Bombay)  and  also  regulatory  bodies  (such  as Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals) were received and taken into consideration while taking up the revision of the Standard in 2015.

(e) & (f)  : The BIS Technical Committee on the subject, after due discussions has decided to retain the range of chloride and  sulphates  as  currently  prescribed  in  the  Boric Acid  Standard  (IS  10116).    It  also deliberates upon the results of technical studies undertaken by specialized R&D Institutes so as to further improve the standard from time to time.

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