Woven sacks made from high-density polyethylene or polypropylene are often used for packaging and carrying vast amounts of sugar, food grains, sand, and other materials. These high-density polyethylene or polypropylenes (HDPE or PP) woven sacks are steadily becoming the proven choice to contain materials which require sturdy packaging. This is because HDPE or PP woven sacks are extremely pliable but solid and durable and do not quickly deteriorate in quality when wet. The most significant advantage of woven sacks is that they are incredibly robust and reusable. These woven sacks are made using woven and tubular fabric and stitched at the bottom with double lock stitches. The stitches must be made using HDPE PP tapes that conform to requisite IS standards. In this blog, we will discuss more about BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks.
The market is flooded with woven sacks from various manufacturers, and the customers are often spoilt for choice, given the large number of options to choose from. For a product to stand out in such a cut-throat market, it is prudent to obtain certifications from national bodies of certifications such as the Bureau of Indian Standards or BIS. A certificate from BIS signifies that the product meets exacting levels of quality and safety standards. This makes the manufacturers build quality products while ensuring the safety of consumers.
What is the Bureau of Indian Standards?
The Bureau of Indian Standards or BIS is a certification authority set up by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Foods, and Public Distribution under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. It was established with the aim of monitoring products in the Indian market and laying down specific standards based on which the products are assessed and provided certifications. The BIS certificate is a mark of high quality and safe products. The bureau has laid down norms for the registration of products and subsequent grant of licenses to these products. Some products are only required to be registered based on the volition of their manufacturers or importers. However, there are certain products which are required to mandatorily adhere to the standards laid down by BIS and obtain requisite licenses before they can be permitted to be sent out for consumer use. After the bureau is satisfied that the product meets the relevant standards laid down by it, it shall grant the manufacturers a BIS ISI certificate. Manufacturers who have been awarded the BIS ISI certificate are permitted to affix the standard ISI mark on their products, which helps them stand out from other products in the market as the ISI mark is often a symbol of trust, purity, and safety of consumer products.
There are many advantages to acquiring a BIS certificate, and they are as follows:
- The ISI mark symbolizes optimum standards of quality and safety since these products undergo many tests to check conformity with the BIS standards.
- For products requiring mandatory registration, an ISI mark allows such products to be freely manufactured and deployed in the market.
- The ISI mark is recognized both nationally and globally and thus lends credibility and authenticity to the products of the manufacturer’s brand.
- An ISI mark can be used as a good tool of marketing to attract consumers, propel the goodwill and name of the company over other manufacturers and thus increase revenue.
BIS Standards for Woven Sacks
There are various standards which apply to HDPE or PP woven sacks based on the material being packaged in the sacks. The BIS standard for HDPE PP woven sacks for carrying sand is IS 14252:2015. The BIS standard for packaging sugar for HDPE PP woven sacks is IS 14968:2015. The BIS standard for HDPE PP woven sacks is IS 14887:2015 for carrying 50 KGs of food grains. The BIS standard for HDPE PP woven sacks for carrying food grains weighing 10 KGs, 15 KGs, 20 KGs, 25 KGs and 30 KGs is IS 16208:2015. The manufacturers of HDPE or PP woven sacks must comply with the standards as laid down in the above standards in accordance with the purpose for which the woven sacks are to be used. Any printing and labelling on the woven sacks must conform with the applicable standards.
Tests to Obtain a BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks
The following tests are required to be conducted to obtain BIS ISI certification for woven sacks:
- Test of dimensional stability
- Raw material test
- Test to check the tape and fabric used
- Tensile strength test
- Test to assess breakage
- Test to check UV resistance
- Test to check ash content
- Test to check tenacity
- Test to shrinkage caused due to heat
Important Documents Required to Obtain a BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks
There are certain specific documents and information which are required to be submitted while applying for a BIS ISI certification for woven sacks, and they are as follows:
- Address proof and identity proof of the applicant
- Address of the registered office of the manufacturer and the manufacturing unit
- Proof of registration of the manufacturing entity
- An MSME certificate or SSI certificate, if applicable
- Details of the manufacturing equipment used
- Comprehensive flow chart of the whole process of manufacturing from the first stage involving raw materials to the last step with the finished product
- Information pertaining to the testing facilities in the manufacturing unit, the specific equipment used for testing and the calibration certificate for such equipment
- A layout of the factory premises
- Information pertaining to the authorized signatory, along with the authorization letter.
- Details of the nomination of an all-India representative, if applicable. The all-India representative is required to submit an affidavit and an undertaking along with the nomination form.
- Details pertaining to any internal test report or an independent test report, if any.
Procedure to Follow to Obtain a BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks
Indian manufacturers looking to obtain a BIS ISI certification for woven sacks are required to follow the process laid out below:
- Register on the Official BIS Portal
The applicant is required to create an account on the official BIS portal. This account shall be used to file the application forms and the necessary documents.
- Independent Testing of Product
The applicant must submit the product for testing to a laboratory which has been approved by BIS[1]. The product shall be tested according to the applicable standards, and the request for such testing can be placed on the Manak portal to assess the conformity of the products with the BIS standards. The test report must be issued as per the BIS norms. The test report shall be valid for 90 days and shall be available for download on the Manak portal.
- Fill the Application
After receipt of the test report, the application form must be submitted on the BIS portal with the necessary documents, test report and the prescribed fee. While filling out the application form, the applicant must carefully choose the applicable IS standard. The applicant shall also provide any additional information that is required, like details pertaining to the process of manufacturing and the raw materials and equipment used.
- Application Scrutiny and Manufacturing Unit Inspection by BIS
Once the BIS has received all the submissions made on the portal, it shall assess the application with the documents and the test report. After the submissions have been verified and the applicant has rectified lacuna, if any, in the application, a BIS official shall visit the manufacturing unit to conduct an inspection and check conformity with the BIS standards by carrying out specific tests.
- Verification of Documents Onsite
The BIS official conducting the inspection of the manufacturing unit shall assess and verify physical copies of the documents submitted, the manufacturing process, the test reports and the process of testing.
- Grant of BIS Certificate
Once all inspection, assessment and verification of the documents and various processes have been completed, and BIS approves the sufficiency of the submissions made, the applicant shall be granted a BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks by the BIS.
Validity Period of a BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks
The BIS ISI certification for woven sacks is valid for a period of two years from the date when the certificate was granted to the manufacturer of woven sacks. The certificate can be renewed before the expiry of the validity period by paying the requisite renewal charges. The certificate can be renewed for a period of one to five years and shall be subject to paying the applicable fee pertaining to licensing, surveillance, and late fee, if applicable.
Conclusion
The Bureau of Indian Standards was established to ensure that customers in the Indian market receive products which are safe and possess optimum standards of quality. Manufacturers of woven sacks must aim to get a BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks to make it stand apart from the products of other manufacturers. An ISI mark would not only push the manufacturer to deploy only safe, and quality products in the market but will also help attract more customers due to the trust and confidence that an ISI mark brings along with it. Obtaining a BIS ISI certificate has many benefits, but it also comes with certain compliances which ought to be followed. A manufacturer of woven sacks looking to get a BIS ISI Certification for Woven Sacks must be aware of the processes and compliances involved, must maintain standards as required by BIS and remain prepared with the necessary documents and reports before commencing the registration process.
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