The Indian government has mandated that stainless steel and aluminum kitchen utensils conform to national quality standards, as announced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Friday. This initiative, aimed at enhancing consumer safety and product quality, requires these utensils to carry the ISI mark, a certification of quality developed by BIS.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a Quality Control Order on March 14, stipulating that all stainless steel and aluminum kitchen utensils must bear the ISI mark. This order prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, distribution, storage, or exhibition for sale of any non-compliant utensils.

Penalties will be imposed for non-compliance, emphasizing the government's dedication to consumer safety and product integrity. This directive follows the BIS's recent establishment of comprehensive standards for kitchen items, including IS 14756:2022 for stainless steel and IS 1660:2024 for aluminium utensils. These standards encompass material requirements, design specifications, and performance parameters.

The Indian Standard IS 1660:2024, published by the BIS, covers the standards for wrought and cast aluminium kitchenware with capacities of up to 30 litres, including hard anodised and non-stick unreinforced plastic covering. This standard assures that aluminum utensils satisfy the highest material and performance requirements. The government believes that this move will boost consumer confidence and encourage manufacturers to adopt best practices.