A team of officials from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Taramani, conducted an enforcement search and seizure raid operation on May 1 at an unauthorized packaged drinking water bottling plant in Alamathi Village, Ponneri taluk based on information of a suspected violation of BIS Act, 2016.
During the operation, a total stock of 1782 numbers of 2 Litre PET bottles, 11616 numbers of 1 Litre PET bottles, 9600 numbers of 500 ml PET bottles and 10465 numbers of 300 ml PET bottles filled with ‘packaged drinking water’ and bearing labels marked with spurious ISI mark were seized. In addition, 2,58,000 nos. of labels (approximately) marked with spurious ISI marks were also seized.
“The manufacturer does not hold a valid BIS licence, and the firm violated Section 17 of BIS Act 2016 by applying spurious ISI marks on PET bottles,” said a statement from BIS adding that action would be initiated against the offender. The offence is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a fine not less than Rs. 2 lakhs, but may extend up to 10 times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark or both as per Section 29 of BIS Act, 2016 for first contravention.
The authenticity of BIS Standard mark can be verified using a mobile application called ‘BIS Care App’. The general public can report the misuse of ISI mark by writing to BIS Chennai Branch Office, CIT Campus, 4th Cross Road, Taramani, Chennai-600113; email: cnbo1@bis.gov.in. For more information checkout www.bis.gov.in and manakonline.in.
