These standards pertain to quality management systems relating to fundamentals and vocabulary (ISO : 9000 : 2000), sole certification standard in the series (ISO : 9001 : 2000) and guidelines for performance improvements (ISO : 9004 : 2000).

The BIS is a `participating' member of the International Standards Organisation (ISO), technical committee on quality management and quality assurance.

India had made a major contribution, in the preparation of the new version of the ISO 9000 standards. These new standards help in developing countries getting more market access, in the developed world through reduction in various non-tariff barriers in the developed world.

The new version of the ISO 9000 standards, significantly, are based on eight quality management principles like customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management and continual improvement. The ISO has further prescribed that existing units, which have already taken certification under the old ISO 9000 standards may upgrade their quality systems to be in line with the new version, within a period of three years.

In 150 countries, more than 3,50,000 units cutting acrossvarious sectors have opted for ISO standards. In India nearly 6,000 units have been certified.

Even, as the new version of the ISO standard was at a draft stage, the BIS had launched training programmes and seminars to update and equip the Indian industry to meet the requirements of the updated version. These training programmes had received a very enthusiastic response, from the industry and were attended by senior technical executives from units in the manufacturing as well as service sector. Anyone violating these norms will be dealt with according to the provisions of the BIS Act.

The offenders will be prosecuted under the provisions of the BIS Act, 1986. The offence is punishable with a fine up to Rs 50,000 or imprisonment up to six months or both under the provisions of the Act.