The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Warning against sale of electrical goods sans ISI mark

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Warning against sale of electrical goods sans ISI mark

V. Venkatasubramanian

Photo : A. Muralitharan.

WATCH FOR QUALITY: Goods stacked up in a shop in Kancheepuram: —

KANCHEEPURAM: Sale of electrical appliances/devices without the mandatory ISI mark in the State may attract penal action.

Enquiries reveal that the government has taken a serious view on this issue since non-ISI quality products not only endanger the lives of consumers but also result in excess consumption of electricity.

Local markets have been flooded with spurious and poor-quality electrical products and gadgets.

It is said that such products have many takers and even some real estate promoters, who would wish to cut down the cost involved in electrification of buildings being constructed by them, are preferring such items.

In most of the cases, flat buyers who are more cautious about selecting the area or type of flat they wanted to purchase, fail to insist on knowing whether ISI mark cables/wires were used by the builders, official sources pointed out. To prevent the public from falling victim to such activities, the government has decided to strictly enforce the Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order 2003 amended in 2004.

While the Quality Control Order Enforcement Centre at Tiruvanmiyur in Chennai will be the enforcing authority with respect to Chennai District, the General Managers, District Industries Centres of respective districts have been appointed as the appropriate authorities for implementing the provisions of quality control order effectively.

They are empowered to inspect and seize electrical appliances such as electric stoves, tungsten filament general service lamps, electric iron boxes, electric radiators, electric immersion water heaters, switches (including 2 Amps switches) used for domestic and similar purpose, circuit breakers, PVC insulated cables, A.C. Static Watt-hour meters and self-ballasted lamps for general lighting. Manufacturers of these products have also been advised to comply with ISI standards.

To begin with, it has been proposed to circulate pamphlets urging businessmen engaged in sale of electrical appliances and those manufacturing them to desist from producing or marketing non-ISI quality products. Subsequently, surprise inspections would be conducted at the manufacturing units and retail outlets.

The QCO Enforcement Centre authorities, and General Managers, DIC of respective districts were also directed to check the quality of electrical appliances or products provided for public use through local body institutions.

The authorities concerned could also initiate legal action, if any deviation was found in the quality of such products, the sources added.

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