India will not allow any imports without the HSN code. Standards will be set up for Indian goods and services to meet international requirements so that brand India is recognised in the world as a provider of quality products and services. The aim is to have zero tolerance for sub-standard products and services from the industry and consumers and to have a commitment for quality, sincerity, customer satisfaction and not be the second best. India’s free trade agreements with other countries have not led to the growth of trade and business because poor quality products and services get restricted with non-tariff barriers when exported. The United States has 8,000 technical barriers to trade (TBTs), Brazil has 3,879, China has 2,872 and India has only 439 TBTs.

The new Bureau of Indian Standards Act is taking a fresh look at all standards for goods and services to balance the interests of consumers with that of the industry that will enable the culture of quality to take root in the country. The sixth National Standards Conclave was organised in New Delhi this month by the department of commerce under the ministry of commerce and industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Bureau of Indian Standards, the Export Inspection Council of India, the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies and the Centre for Research on International Trade.