Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, organised a technical discussion under its stakeholder outreach initiative Manak Manthan on “Wide Circulation Drafts of Amendments to Indian Standards on Insulated Containers for Food Storage, Stainless Steel Utensils & Insulated Flasks for Domestic Use” at the BIS Southern Regional Office, CIT Campus, Taramani, Chennai.

The programme began with a Welcome Address by Shri Gowththam B J, Scientist–D / Joint Director, BIS Chennai Branch Office, who highlighted the importance of consumer-centric standards in daily household and food-related products. He stressed that stakeholder engagement is crucial in shaping standards that reflect evolving consumer needs, safety, and sustainability.

Delivering the Presidential Address, Shri V Govindaraj, Joint Director, MSME Testing Centre, Chennai, spoke about the role of standards in empowering MSMEs. He explained the test facilities that can be set up for product quality assurance and elaborated on the various schemes available for MSMEs to strengthen their competitiveness. He emphasised that standards enable MSMEs and manufacturers to adopt quality practices and compete globally, ensuring safety, sustainability, and consumer trust.

The Technical Session was led by Shri Gowththam B J, who elaborated on the draft amendments under discussion:

• MED 33 (28558) – Insulated Containers for Food Storage (IS 17569)
• MED 33 (28570) – Stainless Steel Utensils (IS 14756)
• MED 33 (28589) – Insulated Flask for Domestic Use (IS 17790)

He provided insights into the technical requirements, specifications, and testing methods proposed in the amendments, highlighting how these standards would help manufacturers develop safe, durable, and consumer-friendly products.

In the Concluding Session, Shri S. D. Dayanand, Scientist-F / Senior Director & Head, BIS Chennai Branch Office, underlined the importance of stakeholder participation in finalizing standards. He stated that BIS is committed to building robust, safe, and relevant Indian Standards that align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring safer, sustainable, and environmentally responsible products for Indian households.

An Open House followed, where participants actively interacted with BIS officials, raising queries and offering suggestions on quality assurance, product durability, and consumer safety. About 55 participants from industry, manufacturers and testing laboratories actively participated in the discussions and provided valuable comments in improvising the draft Amendment documents to Indian Standards.

The Manak Manthan session reinforced BIS’s role in connecting standard-setting with industry adoption, ensuring that Indian Standards directly contribute to consumer welfare, industrial competitiveness, and sustainability. Stakeholders were encouraged to download the BIS Care App to stay informed about standards and certification updates.

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