Date:12/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/12/stories/2006031217450300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

400 water containers bearing fake ISI mark seized in raids

Staff Reporter

Consumers urged to check out genuineness of packaged drinking water Use of the ISI mark without a valid licence is tantamount to violation of the BIS Act. Selling water containers bearing labels of other manufacturers violates various Trade Acts.

CHENNAI: More than 400 20-litre water containers bearing fake ISI mark have been seized in two raids conducted by officials of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in the city.

The premises of Ms. Airway Purified Packaged Drinking Water, T. Nagar, and Modern Minerals, Pattabiram, were raided, according to a BIS release.

While Airway was found filling and selling packaged drinking water bearing the `ISI' mark under more than 20 different names of manufacturers and brands.

Licence surrendered

The BIS release said Airway had surrendered its BIS licence when its renewal was due on February 24, stating they had not used the ISI mark. Use of the ISI mark without a valid licence was tantamount to violation of the BIS Act. Selling water containers bearing labels of other manufacturers was violative of various Trade Acts.

According to the release, the licence of Modern Minerals expired on December 29, 2004. The BIS office received information that the firm was misusing the ISI mark and had published the company's name in newspapers, among a list of firms in the city whose licences had either been cancelled or had expired.

Prosecution proceedings

The BIS proposes to launch prosecution proceedings against both firms.

It has requested consumers to ensure the genuineness of packaged drinking water purchased by them.

It cautioned that fake manufacturers do not carry out the stipulated tests to ensure water quality before the containers are filled.

For assistance, people can contact the Bureau of Indian Standards, Southern Regional Office, CIT Campus, IV Cross Road, Taramani, Chennai-113 (Telephones: 22541216/22541442/ email mdcl@bis.org.in).

Spurious labels

In another raid in the Mannurpet area of Ambattur Industrial Estate, BIS officials unearthed spurious labels meant to be affixed on fire extinguishers without holding valid BIS certification marks licence.

The raid, led by T. A. Nambi and G. Venkatanarayanan, BIS joint directors, on the directive of Deputy Director-General V. Kalyanasundaram, was held as part of a nation-wide enforcement drive.

People have been asked to report offence of this nature through phone on 22541220/22541442 or fax- 22541087.