16Central Government to direct compulsory use of Standard Mark

(1) If the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest or for the protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of the environment, or prevention of unfair trade practices, or national security, it may, after consulting the Bureau, by an order published in the Official Gazette, notify—

(a) goods or article of any scheduled industry, process, system or service; or

(b) essential requirements to which such goods, article, process, system or service,

which shall conform to a standard and direct the use of the Standard Mark under a licence or certificate of conformity as compulsory on such goods, article, process, system or service.

Explanation.—For the purpose of this sub-section,—

(i) the expression "scheduled industry" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (65 of 1951);

(ii) it is hereby clarified that essential requirements are requirements, expressed in terms of the parameters to be achieved or requirements of standard in technical terms that effectively ensure that any goods, article, process, system or service meet the objective of health, safety and environment.

(2) The Central Government may, by an order authorise Bureau or any other agency having necessary accreditation or recognition and valid approval to certify and enforce conformity to the relevant standard or prescribed essential requirements under sub-section (1).