NEW DELHI: Amid rise in demand for electro- technology devices, Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas today emphasised the importance of 'standards' for ensuring safe and energy efficient products to consumers.
He also urged Indian industry to proactively participate in the technical work of the global body IEC, which publishes international standards for the majority of the electrical and electronic components, devices and systems.
Addressing the 77th general meeting of the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) here, Thomas said: "Standards in the electro-technical areas have an important role to play" for ensuring efficient and safe generation, transmission and utilisation of power.
Standardisation in electrical and electronic devices in important as India has made rapid advances in all spheres of technology including in the power sector, he added.
Asserting that it was imperative to set 'standards' for each industry, Thomas said that 'standards' are a major tool for protection of consumer interests.
"In this context, it becomes important that international standardisation has to be comprehensive covering issues concerning all stakeholders," he said.
The IEC meeting aims to deliberate on the issues related to international standards development in electro technology. There will be technical sessions on standards related to power electronics, electrical energy efficiency, safety of household appliances, solar photo-voltaic systems and High Voltage Direct Current Transmission (HVDC).
More than 600 delegates from 80 countries are participating during the two-days IEC meeting, organised by both Indian national committee of IEC and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). About 164 countries are members of IEC.
Thomas further said that 'standards' ensure not only the availability of quality product, but also provide methods for their evaluation to assure compliance to requirements. They set a framework where people can feel safe and confident in using a product.
He also said amid limited resources from conventional energy sources and concerns of green gas emissions and climate change, there is a need to focus on energy management and use of alternate and renewable energy sources.
IEC President Kluas Wucherer said India has been actively participating in the work of IEC technical committees. Indian standards are harmonised with IEC standards (wherever they exist) to the extent possible in order to facilitate adoption of IEC standards by all segments of industry and business.
