German Delegation contributes to the 5th Indian National Standards Conclave

The 5th Indian National Standards Conclave organised by the Department of Commerce of the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) took place on 18 and 19 June 2018 in New Delhi, India. Policy makers, industry representatives, and experts from related fields discussed the theme Implementing the Indian National Standards Strategy. India’s new standardisation strategy aims to position standards as a key driver of economic growth, supplementing national policies, and serving the interests of both consumers and the industry.

Heading a German delegation at the Conclave, Ms. Gerhild Roth from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) presented the German policy framework for standardisation and the experience of implementing the German standardisation strategy. Ms. Siglinde Kaiser and Mr. Thomas Sentko, from the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) and the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (DKE), respectively highlighted the importance of market-driven standards and harmonisation with international standards.

In a pre-recorded presentation, Mr. Hans-Georg Niedermeyer, Head of the Central Authority of the German Federal States for Safety (ZLS), illustrated how the market surveillance system of the European Union contributes to the free movement of goods. Dr. Caroline Silva-Garbade, Acting Head of the Economic Affairs Division at the German Embassy attended the Conclave and had side-discussions with the Department of Commerce. The inputs from the German experts were very well received by MoCI and participating Indian experts as the presentations addressed key aspects for developing the Indian quality infrastructure system and strengthening India’s integration in global value chains.

At the side-lines of the Conclave, highlights of two studies were showcased which will be released by the Global Project Quality Infrastructure (GPQI) of the BMWi. One of the studies will give an easy-to-understand overview of the Indian quality infrastructure landscape, including institutions and processes of standardisation, conformity assessment, and technical regulations. The second study compares Indian and European machinery regulations and will provide a comprehensive overview of the machinery safety landscape in India.