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Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play a pivotal role in India's economy, contributing around 30% to the GDP. This week, the government's announcements concerning MSMEs have garnered substantial attention. From the enforcement of GST e-invoicing to the establishment of quality control norms in the footwear manufacturing industry, these developments have elicited mixed responses from the MSME community.GST E-Invoicing Mandate:Effective August 1, 2023, a significant change is set to reshape how businesses operate in India. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has issued a directive that mandates e-invoicing for businesses with an aggregate turnover of Rs 5 crore or more. This move, aimed at fostering greater transparency and efficiency in the tax system, necessitates businesses to generate e-invoices for all B2B transactions, including exports, made during the previous…

In a significant move towards promoting standardization and conformity assessment, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has successfully executed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 35 distinguished institutions. This strategic alliance seeks to foster cooperative initiatives aimed at enhancing the realms of standardization practices. Among the institutions involved are prominent National Institutes of Technology (NITs), government entities, and private engineering colleges hailing from diverse regions across the nation.One of the pivotal prospects arising from these agreements is the prospective establishment of a Center of Excellence for Standardization, a groundbreaking initiative that could be pursued in partnership with these respected institutions. This center would serve as a hub for excellence in the field of standardization, fostering innovation and collaboration.Through these collaborative arrangements, partner institutions will be granted the opportunity to actively engage…

Introduction: Energy efficiency stands as a linchpin in steering the sustainable transition to clean energy and decarbonizing the global economy. Its role in realizing critical goals such as climate change mitigation, renewable energy integration, and sustainable development is paramount. To propel the world toward a net-zero emissions trajectory, a vigorous doubling of efforts to enhance energy efficiency is imperative. Achieving this acceleration necessitates novel financing mechanisms and a concerted focus on key sectors, as underscored in the recent report titled "Strategic Plan for Advancing Energy Efficiency Across Demand Sectors by 2030," jointly prepared by the Ministry of Power (MoP) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.Foundations of Transformation: The report serves as a beacon guiding the pursuit of energy efficiency, anchoring it to Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the imperative decarbonization…

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya commended the bravery and dedication of two officers from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) who successfully raided a major gang in Kolkata, seizing counterfeit and adulterated drugs worth over Rs 2 crore. The officers, Yashpal Singh and Rakesh Sharma, were applauded by the Minister for their commitment to putting an end to the distribution of spurious medicines. In a tweet, Mandaviya assured that the Modi government would not compromise on stopping the circulation of adulterated drugs.The operation was initiated based on a complaint received from Sun Pharma Laboratories Limited via email on January 11, 2023, regarding the selling and storage of suspected spurious drugs at SENCO, Bagri Market in Kolkata. Under the supervision of Dr. Kamal K Halder (ADC, CDSCO-East Zone), a team…

Introduction: In a shocking development, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh State Drug Controllers, has taken decisive action against pharmaceutical company Riemann Labs. The firm has been ordered to immediately cease production of its cough syrup, Naturcold, which has been tragically linked to the deaths of children in Cameroon. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a concerning alert after discovering "unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol as contaminants" in the cough syrup supplied to Cameroon.The Investigation: Prompted by the WHO's alert on July 19, CDSCO and the State Drug Controllers of Madhya Pradesh conducted a joint inspection at M/s Riemann Labs in Indore. The findings were deeply troubling, prompting immediate action to safeguard public health.The Banning Order: Minister of State for Health, Bharati Pravin…

The safety and efficacy of medical devices are of paramount importance in the healthcare industry. Patients and healthcare professionals alike rely on these devices to provide accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and improved quality of life. To ensure that medical devices meet stringent quality standards and are safe for use, regulatory bodies play a crucial role. In India, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) plays a pivotal role in regulating and overseeing medical devices' safety and efficacy.Introduction to CDSCO:CDSCO is the national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices in India. It operates under the purview of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Established under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, CDSCO is responsible for overseeing the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of medical devices and drugs to ensure…

The government has recently introduced mandatory quality norms for smart meters and welding rods to address the issue of sub-standard goods imports and promote domestic manufacturing of these products. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a notification on July 14, stating that smart meters and welding rods can only be produced, sold, traded, imported, and stocked if they bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark.The BIS Act, 2016, prohibits the manufacturing, storage, and sale of non-BIS certified products. Violating this provision can lead to imprisonment of up to two years or a minimum fine of Rs 2 lakh for the first offence. For subsequent offences, the fine can increase to a minimum of Rs 5 lakh and up to 10 times the value of…

Date: August 1, 2023The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has taken a significant step towards enhancing product quality in India by notifying two new Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 'Smart Meters' and 'Welding Rods and Electrodes.' The announcement was made on July 14, 2023, and the QCOs are set to come into effect six months from the date of notification.The Smart Meters (Quality Control) Order, 2023 mandates compulsory certification under IS Standards for specific types of smart meters. These electronic devices play a crucial role in recording vital information, such as electric energy consumption, voltage levels, current, and power factor. They facilitate transparent communication of this data to both consumers, enabling them to better understand their energy usage, and…

India's air conditioning landscape is experiencing a significant transformation, with a remarkable shift towards energy-efficient inverter air conditioners. The combination of cost efficiencies, growing climate awareness, and increased purchasing power has triggered a discernible consumption change in the country. As a result, consumers are increasingly choosing inverter ACs, and manufacturers are ramping up production to meet the soaring demand, according to India's leading AC companies.The rise in demand for inverter ACs has not only bolstered domestic manufacturing but has also led to a reduced dependency on imports, resulting in a sharp decline in costs. The latest data from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, sheds light on this remarkable transformation. In the financial year 2015-16 (FY16), inverter ACs held less than 1 percent of the…

Date: August 1, 2023In a bid to address the alarming presence of pesticides and harmful chemicals in fresh fruits and vegetables, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken significant steps to monitor their sale in markets nationwide. Several media reports raised concerns about the excessive use of pesticides, prompting the FSSAI to respond promptly.As part of their efforts, the FSSAI has communicated with all Food Safety Commissioners across the country, acknowledging the media reports that highlighted the widespread issue of fruits and vegetables being sold with dangerously high pesticide content in major cities.The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also taken suo-moto cognizance of the matter, recognizing the risks posed by the excessive use of pesticides by farmers. In response, the NHRC has directed the implementation…