Dithering delays new BIS norms for tyres

A new mandatory Bureau of India Standards (BIS) certification system for tyres is unlikely to be notified in 2007 as the different governmental departments involved with the framing of the law have yet to reach a consensus on the new system.

According to sources, since the draft notification has yet to be released by the government, it is likely that a final notification is ready only by 2008. Even foreign tyre companies planning to export into India will have to meet the new requirements. Currently, the only norm that is followed in India is one concerning the product and that too is voluntary. The new certification will include both product and safety standards.

CONTENTIOUS ISSUE

As per the new certification, foreign tyre makers would need to retest their tyres in India, and this has drawn an immediate reaction from the United States. A report by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office on India noted that foreign tyre manufacturers would now be subject to higher licensing fees and would have to emboss the logo of the BIS along with an approval number to gain access to the Indian market. The US has raised the issue before the WTO, along with the European Community and Korea.

“There are similar mandatory tyre norms in other countries which encompasses both product and safety standards. There is a BIS standard for tyres and it has been voluntary. The government decided to have safety standards for tyres, components and vehicles. So the government decided to incorporate the two standards into one BIS standard and to make it mandatory,” said the director general, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA), D Ravindran.

For the last several years, ATMA has been debating the issue of tyre standards. In December 2004, it made a representation to the competition committee of the government on establishing globally acceptable standards for the export of tyres. Brazil imposes an ‘En-Metro’ marking on all imported tyres. This costs around $20,000 and the certificate is valid for one year. Revalidation costs are estimated at $1,100. Besides this, there is an additional $600 a day cost of hosting Brazilian inspectors who visit Indian factories.

The Chinese government has implemented a new regulation which makes it mandatory to have product certification for tyres exported into that country. A team from their certification authority visits the local factory and carries out an audit to ensure that the product meets Chinese tyre standards.

GLOBAL NORMS

Mexico stipulates that a “Norm” certificate be awarded to each and every tyre and not to the tyre company. Nigeria has imposed ITS marking on tyres for imports into the country and European countries insist on E-marking.

“Our tyres, which are tested at the central institute of road transport laboratory, carry no mandatory norms. Going forward there should be prescribed mandatory standards. Later there could be a mutual recognition treaty and the final stage would be the UN norm,” Ravindran said.

Meanwhile, vehicle manufacturers in India are demanding an exemption on tyres coming in as part of CBUs and CKDs. They are also seeking the BIS exemption on tyres fitted on vehicles that are exported.

P THARYAN