INTRODUCTION:

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the only National Standards body of Bangladesh, is playing an   important role in developing and promoting industrial   Standardization.

 Keeping in view that Standardization, metrology, testing and quality control in the industrial spheres are the basic pre-requisite of the infrastructure necessary for sound economic development of the country, the Government of Bangladesh has established the  Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) with the merger of Bangladesh   Standards  Institution and the Central Testing Laboratories in 1985 through promulgating  “The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Ordinance, 1985(Ordinance XXXVII of  1985)”.

 The BSTI is a body corporate and its administrative Ministry is the Ministry of Industries.

The Institution so formed has become member of the International Organization for standardization (ISO) in 1974.  At present, BSTI is the Member/Affiliate Member/ Contact Point/ Nodal Point of the following International/Regional Organizations:

 International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML)Codex Alimentations Commission (CAC) of FAO/WHOInternational Electro technical Commission (IEC)Asia Pacific Metrology Programmer (APMP)Asian Forum for Information Technology (AFIT)

    ISO Information Network (ISO NET) Standing Group for Standardization, Metrology, Testing and Quality The Institutions task is to prepare Standards for all articles, products, methods and services. The Institution can   bring any product under BSTI’s Compulsory Certification marking after approval of the Govt. A regulation has already been notified by special Regulatory order named BSTI Regulation 1989 for this purpose. The BSTI marks cannot be used under any circumstances by others without approval in advance from BSTI.   Only the standards approved, and passed by the Institution are called Bangladesh Standards. As a rule, the Bangladesh Standards are voluntary. The compulsoriness of a standard requires of being as Bangladesh one. Compulsory standards are published in the Official Gazette. The authority to which the Institution reports is the Ministry of Industries.

.

1

THE MAIN FUNCTION OF BSTI

a. BSTI  is  entrusted  with the  responsibility  of  formulation  of  national  Standards  of     

 Industrial, food and chemical products keeping in view the regional and international Standards

b. BSTI is responsible for the quality control of the products which are ensured as per Specific national standards made by the technical committees formed by BSTI.

c. BSTI is also responsible for the implementation of metric system and to oversee the accuracy of weights and measures in the country.

LAWS GOVERNING BSTI

  a.     The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Ordinance, 1985 (Ordinance No.

           XXXVII of 1985).

  b.     The Standards of weights and Measures Ordinance, 1982 (Ordinance No. XII of

          1982).

  c.     The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (Amendment) Ordinance, 1988

           (Ordinance No.  XI of 1988).d.       The Standards of weights and Measures (Amendment) Act, 2001e.        The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Employee Service Rules, 1989.f.         The standards of weights and Measures Rules, 1982 (as Amended, 2006)

  g.     The Bangladesh Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged commodities

REGULATION:

1.      The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Employee Service Rules, 1989.

2.        The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Rules 1989.

3.        The Standards of Weights and Measures Rules 1982.

4.        The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Employee (Pension & Gratuity Rules 2002).

2

THE FUNCTION OF THE INSTITUTION:

.... (a) To set up Bangladesh Standards of quality and dimensions and prepare and promote the general adoption of standards on national and international basis relating to materials, commodities, structures, practices and operations and, from time to time, to withdraw, revise, alter and amend the same;

....... (b) To consider and recommend to the Government Bangladesh Standards for the measurement of length, weight mass, volume, and, energy;

.......(c) To promote standardization, quality control, metrology and simplification in industry and commerce;

.......(d) To secure compliance with the Bangladesh Standards adopted by the Institution by the producers and users;

.......(e) To implement Bangladesh Standards through the administration of a national certification mark scheme or inspection of goods or both;

.......(f) To provide or arrange facilities for examination, testing and inspection of commodities, processes and practices for any investigation, research or promotion of export that may be necessary and to issue test reports;

.......(g) To certify the quality of commodities, materials, produces, products and other things including food materials, whether for local consumption, export or import;

......(h) To co ordinate the efforts of producers and users for the improvement of materials, products, code of practice, appliances, processes and methods, so as to eliminate the national waste of material and time involved in the production of an unnecessary variety of patterns and sizes of articles for one and the same purpose;

.......(I) To establish and publish, in such manner as may be prescribed, the Bangladesh Standard Specifications in relation to any article or process or code of practice;

.......(j) To recognize, adopt or endorse as a Bangladesh Standard, in such manner as may be prescribed, any standard established by any other Institution in Bangladesh or in any foreign country, or by international organizations in relation to any article or process;

......(k) To specify a Standard Mark to be called the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Certification Mark which shall be of such design and contain such particulars as may be prescribed to represent a particular Bangladesh Standard;

.......(l) To grant, renew, reject, suspend or cancel, in such manner as may be prescribed, a license for the use of Standard Mark;

3

....... (m) To make such inspection and take such samples of any material or substance as may be necessary to see Whether any article or process in relation to which the Standard Mark has been used or proposed to be used conforms to the Bangladesh Standard or whether the Standard Mark has been improperly used in relation to any, article or process with or without license;

........ (n) To utilize with the permission of the owners, the services of laboratories other than those maintained by the Institution and approve such laboratories for the purpose of the Institution;

........ (o) To make arrangements or provide for the facilities, for the testing and calibration of precision instruments, gauges and scientific apparatus and for the issue of certificates in regard thereto so as to make them comply with the required standards;

........ (p) To undertake execution of any trust or any agency business which it may consider conducive to the attainment of, its objectives;

........ (q) To co operate with any person, association, or organization, outside Bangladesh having objectives, similar to those for which the Institution is established; and

........(r) to do all such acts and things ancillary, or incidental to any of the aforesaid, functions.

4

BSTI WORKING MAP IN BANGLADESH

5

Activities of various wings

Standards wings

Laboratories of BSTI

Certification marks wings

Metrology activities

Administration wings

Standards Wing:

a. Agriculture and Food division

b. Jute & Textile division

c. Chemical division

d. Electrical and Electronics division

e. Engineering division

f. Publication section

Physical Testing Wing:

a. Electrical & Electronics and Engineering

b. Civil, Physical and Mechanical Engineering

c. Textile

Chemical Testing Wing:

a. Chemical

b. Food and Bacteriological

Metrology Wing:

a. Legal Metrology

b. Metrology Lab and Training

6

c. Industrial and Scientific Metrology

Certification Marks Wing (CM):

a. Certification Marks

b. Motivation and Training

Administration Wing:

a. Administration

b. Finance/Accounts

c. Planning and Development

d. Procurement and Stores

e. Legal affairs

Standards wing  

Technical/Sectional Committees: 

.........The Technical / Sectional Committees are the specialized units of the BSTI, responsible for preparing the Bangladesh Standards.

There is 73 such Technical / Sectional Committees, each consists of one Chairman and a number of experts in their own respective fields.

Specialized Committees:

Divisional Committees are higher bodies examine and approve the finalized draft standards (FDS). The existing Divisional Committees are the following:

.........I) Agriculture and Food

.........ii) Chemical

.........iii) Jute and Textile

.........iv) Electrical and Electronics

.........v) Engineering (Civil)

.........vi) Mechanical Engineering

7

Specialized Committees: The specialized committees are ad hoc teams formed by the relevant Technical Sectional Committees.

Stages of Evolution of a Standard:

Flow Chart of Preparing the Standard:

 

The total numbers of Standards are

     

      1. Products Standards - 1312.      2. Methods standards/Guidelines – 427      3. CAC, ISO, IEC and ISO/IEC – 651

 Grand Total – 2390

8

Revisions

The published Bangladesh Standards are reviewed at given intervals and modified if they contradict with the technological developments. When a revision is on the agenda, the concerned Bangladesh Standards are subjected to the same procedure as applicable to an original one.

PHYSICAL TESTING WING

Electrical, Electronics and Engineering laboratories

1. Cable TestsIn this Laboratory PVC Insulated Cables, Flexible Cord, Power Cable (up to 50kV), Super enameled, Copper Conductor, Transformer oil (Dielectric strength up to 100kV), UPS, IPS, voltage stabilizer etc. are tested here as per relevant BDS and International Standards.

2. Single phase AC EnergyThis subsection is in charge of the inspections and tests shown in the standards for sockets, fixtures, ballasts, bulbs, lamps, breakers, switches and other lighting components and enameled winding wires and reports the results of these inspections and tests as required by the applicable standards.

3. Lighting EquipmentIn this sub-section executes the tests of Socket, Switches, fixtures, Fluorescent lamp, Filament lamp, Ballast, Circuit breaker.

4. High Voltage

.......With capability to perform all tests required are the relevant Standards up to 50 kV, this sub section is in charge of low and high voltage measurement of distribution transformer, Single phase motor.

Civil, Physical and Mechanical Engineering Laboratories    .......Ceramic Tiles, Ceramic Table Ware, Washbasins, are inspected and tested at these laboratories.    - Connected components dealing with Bolts, Nuts, Wedges, Nail, Rib and others;  - Water Tanks, Door Locks, Hinges, Steel Tubes, Valves, Fire Extinguishers, Concrete Cube/Cylinders and other similar product 

9

- Testing of Bricks, Sand, Stone Chips,  - Cement laboratory dealing with the Cement, Aggregates Briquettes, Concrete Components, and M.S Rod  - Test of PVC Pipe, Ball Point Pen, Paper, Safety Match, G.P Sheet etc.  - Test of condoms;    Textile Laboratories    .......This laboratory is equipped to create the required atmospheric conditions having following facilities:    - Determination of denier, length, fiber length distribution and foreign matter in Cotton, Wool and Man Made Fibers;  - Tensile Strength, Yarn number irregularity, appearance index, twists test and other analysis in yarn and threads;  - Water and air permeability, abrasion resistance, bursting strength, tensile strength, color fastness, rubbing resistance and other tests in fibers and textile products.

CHEMICAL TESTING WINGBSTI Chemical testing Laboratory service is provided by its Central Laboratory in Dhaka as well as by three regional Laboratories in Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi. BSTI Chemical Laboratories consist of two divisions as  

Chemical Laboratories Food And Bacteriological Laboratories

  Chemical Laboratories have chemical & Food sections. Generally the following services are provided in BSTI Chemical and Food & Bacteriological Laboratories.   Chemical Laboratories   .......The Chemical Laboratories are well equipped with modern instruments. The Chemical Laboratories provide Service support in    The chemical laboratories provide service support in  

10

  - Wet Chemical analysis for analytical determination.  - Industrial analysis of organic and inorganic and inorganic materials, Chemical & Reagents.   - Analysis of petroleum and petroleum Products such as Fuel oil, Diesel oil, Lubricating oil and Mobil etc.  - Soap and Detergents, pulp & Paper, Gum-Glue, Leather, Chemical Fertilizer etc.    -Metal Testing facilities including Gold.     Food and Bacteriological Laboratories    Analysis of Cereal & Bakery products such as Wheat & Wheat Products, Biscuits, Noodles, Instant Noodles, Lachsa Shemai, Chips & Crackers, Chanachur, Toffee & Lozenges etc. Analysis of Processed Fruit Products and Fruit Drinks such as Pickle, Jan-Jelly, Sauce, Chutney, Soft Drinks, Milk & Milk Products (Ice- cream, Butter) etc. Bacteriological analysis such as Total plate count, Coli form count, E-coli, Yeast & mould count Pathogenic micro organism for Drinking and mineral water, Soft drink, Milk & milk Products, sauce, Chutney, and other Food & Cosmetics etc.Following modern Instruments of Chemical, Food & Bacteriological Laboratories have been installed.   

METROLOGY WING.

Metrology Laboratories    .......Metrology laboratories ensure the accuracy & reliability of measuring instruments. It conducts calibration activities to make sure that the mechanical and thermal measuring instruments and equipment use d industrial production and commercial are well calibrated. It can provide training to the manufacturers, repairers and users of weights, measuresand weighing and measuring instruments.  

Industrial & Scientific Metrology Laboratories    .......BSTI has been maintaining reference, secondary and working standards of weights and measures. These standard equipment are being used for calibration and verification of weights, measures and weighting and measuring instruments those are being used in transaction of trade and commerce, Industrial and scientific measurement.

11

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CERTIFICATION   .........The certification mark is a mark attested that the product or service is in conformity with the specific standard. When once this attestation is done by a third party, who is not directly concerned with the sale or purchase of goods, the buyer procures the goods bearing the certification mark, with some degree of confidence. The existence of the standard mark on products, certified under this scheme, enables the consumers to distinguish a quality product from an untested/substandard product in the market.    Legal basis:    .........Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) operates the certification marks scheme, under which the manufacturers /importers are licensed to use the standard mark on goods produced / imported by them in conformity to the relevant Bangladesh Standard (BDS). This scheme is governed by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Ordinance 1985 and the regulations made there under. The scheme covers Industrial products and agricultural produce and excludes drugs and pharmaceuticals (covered under drug Administration). To provide quick service to the applicants and licensees, BSTI operates through 5 regional branch offices, other than head office to take care of certification marks function.

Technical features:     The Certification Marks scheme of BSTI incorporates following technical features

.........(a) Initial type testing of products drawn at random from production line, in BSTI Laboratory or any other laboratory approved by BSTI, for conformity to requirements of relevant Bangladesh standard (BDS).

......... (b) Quality audit of samples of certified products, drawn from licensee's factory though testing in BSTI laboratory or any other laboratory approved by BSTI periodically.

.........(c) Quality audit of samples of certified products, drawn from the open market, through testing in BSTI laboratory or any other laboratory approved by BSTI.

    Operational aspects:     .........The certification marks scheme is voluntary for a majority of the products covered by existing Bangladesh Standards. But when the question of ensuring human health and safety comes in, the need for quality certification assumes great importance. This explains the coming

12

into operation of certification scheme for some items on a compulsory basis. However Bangladesh Government, on considerations of health and safety to consumers or for items of mass consumption has brought so far 145 items under the Mandatory certification marks scheme by issuing S.R.Os time to time under the provisions laid down in clause 24 of the BSTI Ordinance 1985.   

PROCEDURE FOR CERTIFICATION MARKS LICENCE    8 (eight) steps for obtaining Certification of Marks (CM) license.    ......... (a) Any Company/producer intends to use, Standard mark of BSTI in relation to any article or process, shall apply to the Institution for obtaining CM license in a prescribed form.

......... (b) After receiving the application along with necessary and relevant papers an inspection is being arranged and inspection report is prepared.

.........(c) If the inspection report is found satisfactory, then samples are collected on random basis and those are jointly signed and sealed by the BSTI Officer and the producer.

......... (d) The collected sample is tested in the BSTI Laboratory or any other laboratory approved by BSTI according to the relevant Bangladesh Standard (BDS)

......... (e) If the results of the test parameters are found in conformity with the relevant BDS. a license is granted in favors of that article.

......... (f) Normally a license is granted for a period of three years, which is being renewed, if the samples are found satisfactory after following the same procedure as has been described in slink. (b) (E), for a subsequent period of another three years.

......... (g) A license is to pay fees in favor of BSTI which is known as CM fee the breakup of the CM fees are as follows

................. (I) Application fee: Tk. 50/= for new and Tk. 25/= for renewal fee

................. (ii) License fee: Tk. 200/= per year.

................. (ii) Marking Fee: Tk. 0.07% of Ex. factory price for fruit items and Tk. 0.10% of Ex. factory .price for other items. For fruit items Min. fee Tk. 1250/= to Max. Tk. 10, 00,000/= and for. Other items Min. fee Tk. 1875/= to 15, 00,000/=

13

......... (h) A license granted in favor of any article can be cancelled, withdrawn or revoked at any time if it is found that the license has violated any of the conditions specified in the license and BSTI Ordinance as well.

A schematic diagram, explaining the procedure for grant of a BSTI CM license is given in

 

  Preliminary inspection    .........Preliminary inspection is carried out on a day, mutually agreed upon, to examine the availability of the facilities for producing a standard product and to draw samples for independent testing. The details of the preliminary inspection are recorded in a suitable preformed known as the preliminary inspection report. On the basis of this report. Decision taken regarding the grant of license. The information, which is to collect at the time of preliminary inspection, is

....... (a) General information.

....... (b) About raw materials.

....... (c) Manufacturing process.

....... (d) Packing and marking.

....... (e) Laboratory and inspection procedure.

....... (f) Hygienic and environmental condition at factory premises in case of food processing plant....... (g) Testing facilities available as per Bangladesh Standard. ....... (h) Storage facilities........ (i) Testing personnel etc.

  Collection of samples.    .........Two sets of samples are collected on random basis, which are sealed with the joint signature of the inspection officer and the representative of the applicant. Both the samples are kept in the custody of the applicant who is advised to submit one set of the samples to the BSTI lab. And the other to keep with him as a reference sample.   

14

Testing:    .........The sample collected by the inspecting officer during the preliminary inspection is submitted to any of the BSTI Laboratories situated at Dhaka. Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna whichever is seem to be convenient. The testing fee is to be borne by the applicant. In case of the laboratories other than BSTI, the applicant is advised to pay the testing fee directly to the concerned laboratory.

Grant / Renewal of license:    .........After the completion of the above mentioned formalities if it is seem that the preliminary inspection report is satisfactory and the test parameters are found in conformity with the relevant Bangladesh standard, a decision is taken for the grant of a license in favor of that product. After the due payment of license and marking fee a license is issued.

.........The licensee is to apply to the institution for the renewal of their license 3 months before the expiry of the licensing period. The license is renewed, at interval 3 years, only if the test result of the sample duly collected from the factory is found in consistent with the BDS.

15

GRANT OF LICENSE FOR USE OF BSTI MARK (CERTIFICATION)

CONSUMERS PROTECTION    The steps taken by the Institution during the period of a license in operation are as follows:    ......... (a) Surprise inspections of the licensee's factory are carried out periodically by the Institutions qualified inspecting officers and random samples are taken and tested in BSTI Laboratory.

......... (b) Products bearing the standard mark are collected by the surveillance team of the institution directly from the open market and tested in BSTI Laboratory. Representatives from the consumers association of Bangladesh (CAB) and the respective chamber of commerce and Industries help the surveillance team in performing its function.

.........(c) Misuse of the Standard Mark by the unscrupulous manufacturer or dealer is punishable as per the provisions of the Ordinance, which provides for penalty and imprisonment to the offending party. Such activities of the unscrupulous manufacturers are brought to the notice of the consumers by different medias like TV, newspapers etc.(d) If the test reports of the sample collected from the market are found not in conformity with the relevant BDS a show cause notice is given to the producer. if the producer fails to reply the show cause notice or the reply of the show cause notice is found not satisfactory, the license is cancelled and necessary action is taken.

16

......... (e) Complaints on quality of certified products can be sent to the nearest branch office of the Institution. Such complaints are investigated including testing of the item in question and if deviations from the relevant Bangladesh Standard are found then necessary action is taken. Simultaneously. Causes for such failures are investigated and steps are taken with the licensee for necessary corrective action to avid recurrence of such deviation in the final product.

METROLOGY ACTIVITIES (NATIONAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM)

1. A) "The Standards of Weights and Measures Ordinance, 1982"(0rdinance No. X11 of 1982) and "The Bangladesh Standards of Weights and Measures Rules, 1982" were promulgated by the Govt. of the People' Republic of Bangladesh. The purpose of the Govt. of the People' Republic of Bangladesh. The purpose of the said Ordinance and Rules are to .............I) Introduce and implement the metric system/system International (SI) of weights and measures in the country and.............ii) to build up infrastructure of legal metrology in Bangladesh. Metric system/system International (SI) of weights and measures has already been introduced in Bangladesh since 1982.

B). As per Weights and Measures Ordinance and Rules, the following matters, among others are regarded as compulsory:

Every manufacturer, repairer and dealer of commercial weights and measures have to obtain licenses from BSTI.Every commercial weights and measures are to be verified and stamped by BSTI every year.Every exporter and importer of weights and measures are to be registered with BSTI.The application form is annexed “A”

C). Use of non metric weights and measures are completely banned by the law. Unstamped weights and measure could not be used in commercial transaction as per law.

2. Presently Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has been maintaining reference and secondary standards of mass, length and volume. These standards of mass, length and volume are being used for calibration and verification of weights and measures, weighing and measuring equipment. .........With the Liberation of our country as an independent and sovereign state the Regional office of the erstwhile Pakistan standards Institution started functioning as Bangladesh Standards Institution.

17

a) PRESENT STATUS OF NATIONAL STANDARDS OF MEASUREMET:   Parameters Unit Standard Accuracy

Length m Secondary Standard 3 X 10–5

Mass kgi) Reference Standardii) Secondary Standardiii) Working Standard

1.5 X 10–85 X 10–61.5 X 10-5

Volume m3i) Reference Standardii) Secondary Standardiii) Working Standard

1 X 10–44 X 10–48 X 10-4

b) PRESENT STATUS OF CALIBRATION FACILITIES AND SERVICES:

ParametersEquipment used for calibration / measurement

Ranges of calibration /measurement

Accuracy

Length Line Standard (Meter bar) Up to 1m 3 X 10–5

Mass

a) i) Reference Standard weightii) Secondary Standard weightiii) Working Standard weight

b) i) Secondary Standard balanceii) Working Standard balance

1mg to 50 kg1mg to 20 kg1mg to 50 kg

2mg to 20 kg2mg to 50 kg

1.5 X 10–85 X 10–61.5 X 10-5

2.5 X 10-61 X 10-5

Volumei) Reference Standard Measureii) Secondary Standard Measureiii) Working Standard Measure

100L10ml to 10L10ml to 20L

1 X 10–44 X 10–48 X 10-4

Temperature Precision Control Thermometer 0 to 1000 C 1 X 10-4

3. There are 6 Regional Metrology Laboratories in 6 Divisional Headquarters located at Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet. These Laboratories are equipped with working Standards of weights and measures those are being used for verification and re verification of commercial weights.

4. The activities of Regional (Divisional) Metrology Offices are given below: a) Issuance of licenses to manufacturer, repairer and dealer of commercial weights and measures. Every weights and measures manufactured/repaired by the manufacturer/repairer are tested, verified and stamped by BSTI before they are marketed or put in use.b) Periodical verification and stamping of weights and measures those are being used in markets, shops, commercial places etc,c) Periodical verification and stamping of bullion weights those are being used in Jewelers shops.d) Periodical verification and stamping of platform scales, weighbridges, beam scales those are being used in transaction.

18

e) Periodical verification/re verification and stamping of dispensing units of' petrol pump.f) Calibration/re calibration of Tank lorry carrying petroleum products.g) Periodical calibration/re calibration of storage tanks, overhead tanks and underground tanks.h) Institution of court cases against the violators of weights and measures law.

5. To stop the forgery in fuel supply, a technique of sealing of flow Controlling device of dispensing unit of the petrol pumps have been introduced so that the customers can get the accurate quantity of fuel for their vehicles. From the introduction of this sealing system, so far 2819 nos. of dispensing unit out of3368 nos. have been sealed throughout the country.

6. Metrology Ordinance and Rules and given below: a) The Bangladesh Standards of weights and Measures Ordinance, 1982.b) The Bangladesh Standards of weights and Measures Rules, 1982.c) The Bangladesh Standards of weights and Measures (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001.d) The Bangladesh Standards of weights and Measures (Amendment) Rules, 2006.e) The Bangladesh Standards of weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2007.

ADMINISTRATION WING

Administration wing provides the logistic and supports services for the BSTI. These include; appointment, promotion, personnel management, training, budget preparation and maintenance of accounts, legal matters, stores & purchases and others matters related to the establishment including planning & development.The sanctioned strength of BSTI is 474, out of which 267 are officers and 207 are staff.

Budget

BSTI prepares its budget on the basis of Government grant-in-aid and its own income. BSTI earns revenue from the following sources:.......• Certification Marks (CM) fees.......• Testing fees.......• Metrology receipts.......• Sales of standards

Development Activities

.......Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the national standards body was established in 1985 through merger of Central Testing Laboratories (CTL) and Bangladesh Standards Institution (BDSI). Neither BDSI nor CTL took up any development project during the period 1972-1980. However in 1980-85 two projects were taken up by the defunct organization and both the projects were completed in 1986.The activities of BSTI have now been increased manifold. Awareness regarding quality of

19

consumable goods and services has been growing among the mass people. In the meantime the laws of BSTI have been amended by the government.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

............The bilateral and international relations of the Bangladesh standards & testing institution with other countries and various foreign agencies are conducted maturing the BSTI's policies of relation with all organizations abroad.

............The Bangladesh standards institution is a full member of the international standardization organization (ISO) as such, is the only agency, authorized to represent Bangladesh in international standardization work. The participation to the international work is made either through physical presence in flora where the international standards are prepared in technical committee meetings or by examining and evaluation whether the proposed standard conforms to Bangladesh conditions reporting the finding to the concerned entity.

............The institution likewise maintains an active participation with the SAARC standing committee on standards, metrology, testing and quality. Chamber of commerce and industries disseminates information on the seminars and symposia organized by these organizations and BSTI ensures, whenever possible, the dispatch or delegations to these events.

............The BSTI maintains relations with BIPM, OIML, APMP, WTO, ITC, codex A.C. of FAO and other international and regional organization.

............Quality control and information experts have been brought to the institution, using opportunities offered by the UNDP, BSTI experts attend meeting, seminars and workshops arranged and sponsored by WTO, ITC, and SIDA of Sweden, ISO, and PRODEC of Finland, INBAR, APMP, CSC, and PORIM etc.

Regional Standardization, Metrology, Testing and Quality Activities.

............BSTI is actively participating in the Standing Group for Standardization, Metrology, Testing and Quality Activities established by the south Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). This Standing group is working on harmonization of Standards, Mutual Recognition Agreements and capacity building in the field of metrology. The last meeting of the Standing Group was held on 2-4 February 2002 in New Delhi.

20

WTO-TBT ACTIVITIES IN BSTI .

         Bangladesh is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 1 January 1995. Each WTO member must set up a National Enquiry Point which is able to answer all reasonable enquiries on standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, etc. from other members of WTO and other interested parties there.

        BSTI is the National Enquiry Point. There is an internal committee on WTO affairs in BSTI and it participates in the notification activities to WTO through the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industries.

BANGLADESH ACCREDITATION BOARD

............It is very much essential to audit our testing laboratories so that the testing results/ data of our testing laboratories are accepted everywhere.

............To realize the importance of Accreditation Body ``Bangladesh Accreditation Act, 2006 has been enacted on 16 July 2006 and notified through the Government Gazette. Under this act an Accreditation board is formed comprising 14 member including chairman. Among them there are 6 Secretary of different ministries as a member of Bangladesh Accreditation Board.

............Bangladesh Accreditation board is an Autonomous boards under the Ministry of Industries. Temporary office is now at the 4th floor of shilpa Bhaban, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka.

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFICATION (MSC) CELL

In the BSTI ordinance, it is mentioned that besides quality certification, BSTI can give certification on quality management, environment management and food security management. At present BSTI is only giving certification on quality of products. Different organizations obtain certificate on Management System as BSTI till now do not have the Management System Certification facility. In order to establish Management System Certification Scheme (MSCS) in BSTI with the help of UNIDO appointed consultants, the draft of Management System Certification Regulation has been submitted to the Ministry after the approval of the BSTI Council. The regulation is now under active consideration for vetting by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

The documents regarding Management System Certification Scheme have already been prepared by an International Certification Expert. These are:

21

........ .i) Management System Certification Manual

.........ii) Management System Certification Guideline Manual

........iii) Management System Certification Procedure Manual

........iv) Management System Certification Form/Format

........ v) Guideline for Applicant for MSC

           An International Expert Team (Audit team) from Norway has audited the activities and documentation of Management System Certification Scheme (MSCS) of BSTI.

 

          By the recommendation of the Expert Team the Norwegian Accreditation body has given accreditation certificate to the Management System Certification Scheme (MSCS) of BSTI for five years. With this Management System Certification Scheme (MSCS) different non govt. organizations can obtain certificate on ISO 9000 for Management System, ISO 14000 for environment management and ISO 22000 for food security management from BSTI at a low cost instead of going abroad for getting such certificates.

PRODUCT LABELLING POLICY

............There is a Product Labeling Policy, 2006 in Bangladesh. At present manufacturer's/Importers label their product at their own choice. To realize the importance of national product labeling standards, BSTI took initiative to formulate this Product Labeling Policy. Manufacturer's name, full address and Country of origin has been incorporated in the product labeling for all products. In addition, Ingredients, Composition, Batch no., Code no., Expiry date/Use best before on and other information which are necessary has been incorporated in Chemical, Agriculture and Food products. The weights and measures will be expressed in System International Units.

............In the 16th Council Meeting of BSTI held on a 10 (ten) members committee headed by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Industries was constituted for the preparation of the final recommendation of the labeling policy.

............Later on, this committee finalized the product label classifications with the help of different organizations by taking their opinion / recommendations and finalized the Product Labeling Policy to protect the interest of manufacturers, suppliers, importers, exporters and consumers for Free Trade and fair competition.

............After final approval of the Cabinet Committee of GOB it has already been printed as “Product Labeling Policy - 2006

22

BSTI MOVES AHEAD

Since its inception BSTI has come a long way. It is expanding, laboratories are being   strengthened to upgrade at international level.

............At present BSTI is having 578 employees who will be further expanded? Offices outside Dhaka will also be strengthened for meaningful decentralization, so that the regional offices can function as a mini BSTI.

............Realizing its importance the Government amended the existing bar that gave BSTI the required legal authority for quick enforcement and ensure consumers protection.

............The recent activities of BSTI have aroused enthusiasm among consumers. The Civil society, media and business community are taking interest in the day-to-day activities of BSTI.

............The Government is determined to make BSTI as an effective organization and extending all possible support to make it as an effective organization.

CONCLUSION:

BSTI, the only NSB of Bangladesh is performing its noble task of setting national standards on various products and provide services to the exporters in sorting their problems out and giving advice to resolve those problems. Mention may be made that it is an established fact that for increasing the volume of export basket of a country, a very healthy and vibrant relationship between NSBs and TPOs is essentially required.

23