Context:
- India has become an OIML certificate-issuing authority.
- Legal Metrology Division, Department of Consumer Affairs, is now authorised to issue OIML certificates.
What is the OIML?
- Stands for International Organisation of Legal Metrology.
- Established in 1955
- Headquarter in Paris,
Function:
- OIML is an international standard-setting body. It develops model regulations, standards and related documents for use by legal metrology authorities and industry.
- It plays a crucial role in harmonising national laws and regulations on performance of measuring instruments like clinical thermometers, alcohol breath analysers, radar speed measuring instruments, ship tanks found at ports, and petrol dispensing units.
When did India become a member of the OIML?
- India became a member of the OIML in 1956. In the same year, India signed the metric convention.
What is the OIML certificate?
- The OIML-CS is a system for issuing, registering and using OIML certificates, and their associated OIML type evaluation/test reports, for instruments like digital balance, clinical thermometers, etc. With the addition of India, the number of countries authorised to issue OIML certificates has increased to 13.
- It is a single certificate accepted worldwide. For example, suppose there is an equipment-manufacturer making digital balances in Noida, and he wants to export to America or to any other country. Earlier, he would be required to go to one of the 12 other countries for certification. Now, the certificates can be issued in India and the equipment will be exportable, acceptable to the entire world.”
How will this help the Indian economy?
- Increase in exports
- Earning of foreign exchange
- Generation of employment.
- Reducing redundancy and saving resources