Life is busy and for a hurried consumer, it is getting increasingly difficult to choose between the right and the wrong, between a genuine product and a fake one.. But how can you be sure that the product which you are buying is a genuine one? To make the task

1. Quality Mark
• Life is busy and for a hurried consumer, it is
getting increasingly difficult to choose between
the right and the wrong, between a genuine
product and a fake one.. But how can you be sure
that the product which you are buying is a
genuine one? To make the task simple, the
Government of India created certain standards
for almost every product in the market to provide
quality goods that are safe and reliable.
• Reference : Consumer-voice.org/food/know-your-
quality-marks/

2. • Certification of goods helps in protecting the environment
and reduces health risks. The certification of the products
gives the consumer quality satisfaction and the production
standard. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the
aegis of the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO standards), governs all the industrial standardization
and the industrial product certifications in India.
• A quality mark, sometimes known as a certification mark or
conformity mark, is a signifier that a product, service or
company meets an accepted standard of quality as dictated
by a regulatory body working in that industry. These can be
national or international and serve to let consumers know
that the company is meeting the standards expected of
them.

3. Important Quality marks
• ISI MARK
ISI is a certification marks scheme, operated by Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS), earlier known as Indian Standards Institute (ISI),
under the provisions of BIS Act, 1986. Any product that has the ISI
mark is supposed to be of minimum standard and safe for use by
consumers.
The ISI mark is both mandatory and voluntary. Some mandatory ISI
certification products include cement, electrical appliances, LPG
cylinder, Batteries, Oil pressure stove, Automobile Accessories,
Medical equipment, steel products, Stainless Steel, Chemicals,
Fertilizers, infant foods and packaged drinking water. Complete
list of mandatory products is listed by BIS.

4. AGMARK
The Agmark certification is done of agricultural commodities for the benefit of
consumers and producers/manufacturers by Directorate of Marketing and
Inspection, an agency of the Government of India. There are some 205
different commodities including Pulses, Cereals, Essential Oils, Vegetable Oils,
Fruits and Vegetables, and semi-processed products that have to have an
AGMARK. The scheme is legally enforced by Agricultural Produce (Grading &
Marking) Act, 1937.
Manufacturers seeking to grade their commodities under Agmark have to
obtain a Certificate of Authorization from an Agmark laboratory. For this
purpose, they should have adequate infrastructure to process the commodity
and access to an approved laboratory for determination of quality and safety
factors. The quality of a product is determined with reference to factors such
as size, variety, weight, colour, moisture and fat content. The grades
incorporated are grades 1, 2, 3 and 4, or special, good, fair and ordinary.

5. VEGETARIAN AND NON-VEGETARIAN
MARKS
As per Food Safety & Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011:
1. Every package of ‘non-vegetarian’ food shall bear a declaration to this effect
made by a symbol and colour code as stipulated, to indicate that the symbol
and colour product is non-vegetarian food. The symbol shall consist of a
brown colour-filled circle inside a square with brown outline, having sides
double the diameter of the circle.
2. Where any article of food contains egg only as non-vegetarian ingredient,
the manufacturer or packer or seller may give declaration to this effect in
addition to the said symbol.
3. Every package of vegetarian food shall bear a declaration to this effect by a
symbol and colour code as stipulated for this purpose to indicate that symbol
and colour code the product is vegetarian food. The symbol shall consist of a
green colour-filled circle, having a diameter not less than the minimum size
specified, inside the square with green outline having size double the
diameter of the circle.

6. The symbol shall be prominently displayed:
•on the package having contrast background on principal display
panel
•just close in proximity to the name or brand name of the product
•on the labels, containers, pamphlets, leaflets, advertisements in any
media
Provided also that the provisions of above regulation shall not apply
in respect of mineral water or packaged drinking water or carbonated
water or alcoholic drinks, or liquid milk and milk powders.

7. The scheme is voluntary in nature.
Consumers need to look out for the following markings on gold/silver jewellery:
1. BIS Standard Mark
2. Purity in Carat/fineness mark. With reference to gold, the marks are:
3. 916 corresponds to 22 carat
4. 750 corresponds to 18 carat
5. 585 corresponds to 14 carat
6. Assaying and Hallmarking Centre identification mark/Number: The logo of a BIS-
recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre where the jewellery has been assayed and
hallmarked
7. Jeweller’s identification mark: The logo of a BIS-certified jeweller/jewellery
manufacturer
Consumers need to look out for the following markings on gold/silver Bullion:
•BIS Standard Mark
•Fineness
•of bullion, bar or Coin in kg. or g
•Name of Manufacturer
•Serial no.
HALLMARK

8. BEE’ STAR LABEL MARK
To provide consumers with a reference for energy saving, and
thereby cost saving, aspects of electrical household and other
equipments, in 2006, the Bureau of Electrical Efficiency (BEE) of
Ministry of Power, Government of India, launched a scheme for
BEE star on labels. The scheme was invoked for frost-free (no frost)
refrigerators, tubular fluorescent lamps, room air conditioners,
direct cool refrigerators, distribution transformers, induction
motors, pump sets, ceiling fans, LPG stoves, electric geysers and
colour TVs.
The BEE star label has been applicable for following electrical
products: To sell products, a minimum 1 Star rating is mandatory.

9. HANDLOOM MARK
•The Government of India introduced the Handloom Mark scheme to promote handloom
products in the domestic and international markets and to provide assurance to
consumers about the genuineness of handloom products. The scheme covers all
handloom fabrics and products made thereof. The mark is in two forms: the one for
domestic use has the word ‘handloom’ written beneath the logo, and the one for
international marketing has the same logo with the words ‘hand woven in India’ written
beneath it.
•One label will be affixed on each made-up item and each garment produced from hand-
woven fabric. In case of hand-woven fabric, one label will be affixed on the inner end of
the fabric fold (than). When the fabric is sold in retail to the consumer, the retailer will fix
a label on the cut piece of the fabric.
•A consumer having any doubt about the authenticity of a product labelled with
Handloom Mark can approach theTextiles Committee of Government of India with a copy
of the bill and the code number of the mark. Based on the findings, Textiles Committee
will initiate action according to the agreement entered into with the mark users and as
per the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The consumer may also exercise the option of
approaching a consumer court.

10. WOOLMARK
The Woolmark logo is owned by Woolmark Company of Australia.
It’s a non-prof-t organization and is a global authority. Woolmark is
used to identify products that contain wool. There are three marks
for different types and blends of wool.
1. Products with the Woolmark logo are 100 per cent pure new
wool and have been approved and certified to meet quality
specifications and offer natural comfort.
2. The Woolmark Blend logo identifies products containing a
minimum of 50 per cent new wool, offering comfort and
performance.
3. The Wool Blend symbol represents products with 30 per cent to
49 per cent new wool. This logo identifies wool containing wool
and other yarns such as polyester and nylon.

11. SILK MARK
The Silk Mark is a quality assurance label for pure silk and in
addition serves as a brand for generic promotion of pure silk. The
Silk Mark is under the process of registration as a trademark. This
is not a mandatory quality mark but is an advisory
mark promoted under the The Silk Mark scheme, backed by Silk
Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), a registered society sponsored
by Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
The Silk Mark can be used in all silk products ranging from yarn
stage to finished stage, like Dress Material, Made ups, Garments,
Carpets and Sarees.

12. ECOMARK
Eco mark is a certification mark issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (the national
standards organization of India) to products conforming to a set of standards aimed at the
least impact on the ecosystem. The marking scheme was started in 1991. This is not a
mandatory quality mark but is advisory. Following products have been identified so far
under this scheme:
•Soaps and Detergents
•Paints
•Paper
•Plastics
•Cosmetics
•Textiles
•Batteries
•Wood Substitutes
•Propellants and Aerosols
•Food Items (edible oils – including Vanaspati, Tea and Coffee)
•Electrical and Electronics Goods
•Packing/Packaging Materials
•Lubricating/Speciality Oils
•Drugs
•Foods Preservatives and Additives and
•Leather

13. FSSAI
FSSAI is not an obligatory certification mark but it
signifies that food is hygienic and meets the approved
safety standards set for food items under the Food
Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) issues a 14-digit license number to Food
Business Operators, which along with the FSSAI logo is
to displayed on the package of food in contrast color to
the background.
Products that should have the FSSAI logo can be checked
here.

14. Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 has a set of regulations and mandates for
manufacture, storage, import, sale, and distribution of any food product. You can file
complaints on a variety of issues:
•Sale of packaged food items beyond their expiry/best before date
•Presence of dust particles, insects or fungus
•Issues related to adulteration
•Improper packing
•Incomplete information about food item or insufficient information on label
•Misleading advertisement
•Absence of detailed address of manufacturer/ marketer
•Absence of declaration of ingredients such as MSG (monosodium glutamate)
if it is present in the food item
•Absence of warnings – such as ‘Not for phenylketonuria patients’ on the label of food
that has artificial sweetener
HOW AND WHERE TO FILE THE COMPLAINT PACKAGED FOOD OR FOOD PREMISES
1. You can file your complaint online (https://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in/cmsweb/ ) or
by downloading the Food Connect app from Google playstore.
2. Identify the category and click on it. It can be packaged food or food premises.
3. Identify the problem for packaged food or food premises
Submit the complaint with description and picture.

15. https://www.consumer-voice.org/legal-helpdesk/