road Following concerns over safety and the flood of substandard protective equipment in the market, the central government has ordered district authorities to take action against manufacturers and sellers of non-ISI certified helmets. The consumer affairs ministry on Saturday said the government has so far canceled 162 helmet manufacturing licenses. Authorities have conducted 27 raids targeting violations of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regulations.
BIS certification mandatory for all helmets
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said, “Helmets save lives, but only when they are of good quality. This initiative is important towards removing unsafe helmets from the market.” The action comes after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways promulgated the Quality Control Order in June, 2021, making BIS certification mandatory for all helmets under standard IS 4151:2015.
Crackdown on those selling helmets without certification
The authorities have particularly targeted roadside vendors selling uncertified helmets. Consumers can verify the credentials of the manufacturer through the BIS Care app or website. District officials have been directed to work closely with police and BIS officials to identify violations. The Consumer Affairs Ministry said the campaign will be integrated with existing road safety initiatives.
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