Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution And Its Contribution to Quality Standard.

Executive Summary:

With the Liberation of our country as an independent and sovereign state Bangladesh Standards Institution started functioning since 1971.There was an another government department named The Central Testing laboratory (CTL) which was established in Dhaka in 1956 to provide testing facilities to government, private industries, Organizations and business community.

In 1985 Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution comes into being through an Ordinance (Ordinance XXXVII of 1985) with the merger of Bangladesh Standards Institution and the Central Testing Laboratories.

In this report, we tried to highlight the salient features of BSTI, its activities, capabilities. Also we focused on its future projects and the limitations as well. Which we think, will be beneficial to BSTI and the customers.

Contents
Topic
1.Introduction 1.a. Bangladesh Standard and testing Institute 1.b The Objective of the study 1.c Mission, vision and goals 1.d The main purpose of forming BSTI 1.e Organs of BSTI 2.Laws governing BSTI 3.Methodology 4.The Contribution of BSTI to quality standard 5.Activities of BSTI 5.a Standard wing Selectional Committees Standard preparation work Publication Activities Library, Documentation and Technical Information Center 5.b Physical Testing Wing 5.c Chemical Testing Wing 5.d Certification Marks wing 5.e Metrology activities: 5.f International Activities of BSTI: 5.g.WTO-TBT activities in BSTI: 5.h. Management System Certification (MSC) Cell: 6. Development of BSTI 7. Limitations of BSTI 8. Recommendations 9. Conclusion 10.Bibiliography 13 14 15 16 16 Page no. 1 2

3 3 5 6 6 8

9 10 11 12

1. Introduction:
1.a Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) and its Inception:
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the only National Standards body of Bangladesh, is playing an important role in developing and Promoting industrial Standardization. Keeping in view that Standardization, metrology, testing and quality control in the industrial spheres are the basic pre-requisite of the infrastructure necessary for sound economic development of the country, the Government of Bangladesh has established the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) with the merger of Bangladesh Standards Institution and the Central Testing Laboratories in 1985 through promulgating "The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Ordinance, 1985(Ordinance XXXVII of 1985)". The BSTI is a body corporate and its administrative Ministry is the Ministry of Industries. The Institution so formed has become member of the International Organization for standardization(ISO) in 1974. At present, BSTI is the Member/Affiliate Member/ Contact Point/ Nodal Point of the following International/Regional Organizations: International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML) Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) of FAO/WHO International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP) Asian Forum for Information Technology (AFIT) ISO Information Network (ISO NET) Standing Group for Standardization, Metrology, Testing and Quality

The Institutions task is to prepare Standards for all articles, products, methods and services. The Institution can bring any product under BSTI's Compulsory Certification marking after approval of the Govt. A regulation has already been notified by special Regulatory order named BSTI Regulation 1989 for this purpose. The BSTI marks cannot be used under any circumstances by others without approval in advance from BSTI. Only the standards approved, and passed by the Institution are called Bangladesh Standards. As a rule, the Bangladesh Standards are voluntary. The compulsoriness of a standard requires of being as Bangladesh one..Compulsory

standards are published in the Official Gazette. The authority to which the Institution reports is the Ministry of Industries.

1.b The Objective of the study:

The main objective of the study was to find out the contribution of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) in quality standard. We already know BSTI is the only NSB in our country. So it is necessary for all of us to have adequate knowledge about its resources, activities and capabilities and side by side its limitations as well. Besides not enough was conducted study conducted in our country on this silent but actively important organization.

1.c Mission, vision and goals of BSTI:

Vision: BSTI's vision is to help develop the overall economy of Bangladesh through raising acceptability of BSTI's approved product at home and abroad, improving national capacity in terms of weights and measures & hence increasing recognition, strengthening fair competition, consumer protection and trade facilitation.

Mission: Mission of BSTI is as follows: To protect public health and to assure safety of their life by controlling quality of products and services. For this purpose, BSTI has its regulatory functions which is being accomplished as per law. To protect consumer rights by implementing Metric System in weights and measurements. To facilitate national trade by adopting international standards (if applicable) for our national standards. Goals: BSTI's goals are to: Uplift the service to internationally acceptable level Establish BSTI's logo as symbol for quality. Establish BSTI's role as a factor for market access.

1.d The main purpose of forming BSTI:

BSTI is entrusted with the responsibility of formulation of national Standards of
industrial, food and chemical products keeping in view the regional and international standards. BSTI is responsible for the quality control of the products which are ensured as per specific national standards made by the technical committees formed by BSTI. BSTI is also responsible for the implementation of metric system and to oversee the accuracy of weights and measures in the country.

1.e Organs of BSTI:

The organs of BSTI are as follows: 1. The BSTI Council 2. The sectional Committees 3. The Director General and the staff.

The BSTI Council: The general direction and administration of the affairs and functions of the Institution is vested in a Council, which may exercise all powers and perform all functions, which may exercised or performed by the Institution.

Sectional Committees: The sectional committee approves the draft standards prepared by the concerned preparatory groups A as Bangladesh Standards, adopts compulsory implementation decisions on some standards if and when it considers such action expedient, amends or cancels the existing standards where necessary arises therefore.

The Director General and Staff: BSTI is headed by a Director General who is the principal executive officer of the Institution and is responsible for the proper administration of the Institution.

2. Laws Governing BSTI:

2.a Laws:
The Laws which governs the BSTI are described below: The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Ordinance, 1985 (Ordinance No. XXXVII of 1985). The Standards of weights and Measures Ordinance, 1982 (Ordinance No. XII of 1982). The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (Amendment) Ordinance, 1988 (Ordinance No. XI of 1988). The Standards of weights and Measures(Amendment) Act, 2001 The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Employee Service Rules, 1989. The standards of weights and Measures Rules, 1982 (as Amended, 2006) The Bangladesh Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged commodities) Rules, 2007.

2.b Regulations:
1. The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Employee Service Rules, 1989. The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Rules 1989. The Standards of Weights and Measures Rules 1982. The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Employee (Pension & Gratuity Rules 2002).

3. Methodology:

In this research we have used interview method to collect information as the primary source. We visited BSTI and had an interview of Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, Director of Standard wing, BSTI. We also did a research on this topic through different books and Internet as secondary source of information.

4. The contribution of BSTI to quality standard:

To ensure the quality standard and customers interest, BSTI has been working since its inception. It took various steps. They are:

(a) To set up Bangladesh Standards of quality and dimensions and prepare and promote the general adoption of standards on national and international basis relating to materials, commodities, structures, practices and operations and, from time to time, to withdraw, revise, alter and amend the same; (b) To consider and recommend to the Government Bangladesh Standards for the measurement of length, weight mass, volume, and, energy; (c) To promote standardization, quality control, metrology and simplification in industry and commerce; (d) To secure compliance with the Bangladesh Standards adopted by the Institution by the producers and users; (e) To implement Bangladesh Standards through the administration of a national certification mark scheme or inspection of goods or both; (t) To provide or arrange facilities for examination, testing and inspection of commodities, processes and practices for any investigation, research or promotion of export that may be necessary and to issue test reports;

(g) To certify the quality of commodities, materials, produces, products and other things including food materials, whether for local consumption, export or import; (h) To co ordinate the efforts of producers and users for the improvement of materials, products, code of practice, appliances, processes and methods, so as to eliminate the national waste of material and time involved in the production of an unnecessary variety of patterns and sizes of articles for one and the same purpose; (i) To establish and publish, in such manner as may be prescribed, the Bangladesh Standard Specifications in relation to any article or process or code of practice; (j) to recognize, adopt or endorse as a Bangladesh Standard, in such manner as may be prescribed, any standard established by any other Institution in Bangladesh or in any foreign country, or by international organizations in relation to any article or process; (k) To specify a Standard Mark to be called the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Certification Mark which shall be of such design and contain such particulars as may be prescribed to represent a particular Bangladesh Standard; (l) To grant, renew, reject, suspend or cancel, in such manner as may be prescribed, a license for the use of Standard Mark; (m) To make such inspection and take such samples of any material or substance as may be necessary to see Whether any article or processing relation to which the Standard Mark has been used or proposed to be used conforms to the Bangladesh Standard or whether the Standard Mark has been improperly used in relation to any, article or process with or without license; (n) And many more.

5. Activities of BSTI
5.a Standard Wing:
Sectional Committees (Technical Committees) The Sectional /Technical Committees are the specialized units for preparing the Bangladesh Standards. There are 72 such Sectional /Technical Committees, each consists of one Chairman and a number of experts in their own respective fields. Standard preparation work:

The total number of Standards:

1. BDS 1888 2. CAC, ISO, IEC and ISO/IEC 1553 3. Grand Total 3441 (Sept. 2010)

Publication Activities of BSTI Standard Wings The Publication Section deals with printing of Bangladesh Standards (BDS) Yearbook, Catalogue and other publication related to Standardization according to existing printing procedure of the institution and sales of publication, maintain liaison with the press and media and does the PR work. Library, Documentation and Technical Information Center BSTI Library, Documentation and Technical Information Center collects standards, documents of similar standards and other technical publications from home and abroad.

5.b Physical Testing wing:

Physical Testing wing consists of 3(three) Divisions as: Electrical, Electronics and Engineering Division. Civil, Physical and Mechanical Engineering Division. Textile Division. Their activities are briefly described below: Electrical, Electronics and Engineering Division The Electrical, Electronics and Engineering Division performs the functions through the following laboratories. Electrical and Cable Testing Laboratory Electro-mechanical Meter for Active Energy Laboratory

Civil, Physical and Mechanical Engineering Division Cement Testing Laboratory Brick Testing Laboratory Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

Textile Division The Textile Division performs the functions through the following laboratories Textile Mechanical Laboratory Textile Chemical Laboratory

5.c Chemical Testing Wing

BSTI Chemical Lab is Bangladeshs leading testing laboratory. Established in 1967. BSTI Chemical Labs have an envious track record of serving several market leaders across the country. Food and Bacteriological division: BSTI Food and Bacteriological Lab supports in mandatory certification of food and agricultural products produced either locally or imported from other countries. Besides these the Lab does the tests of different kind of samples received from Govt., Semi Govt. and Private Organizations. BSTI Lab assists the food industry for nutritional labeling, food safety evaluations and trace analysis.

Chemical division BSTI Chemical Lab supports in mandatory certification of chemical products produced either locally or imported from other countries. Besides these the Lab does the tests of different kind of samples received from Govt., Semi Govt. and Private Organizations.

5.d Certification marks wing:

The certification mark is a mark attested that the product or service is in conformity with the specific standard. The existence of the standard mark on products, certified under this scheme, enables the consumers to distinguish a quality product from an untested/substandard product in the market. Legal basis: Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) operates the certification marks scheme, under which the manufacturers /importers are licensed to use the standard mark on goods produced / imported by them in conformity to the relevant Bangladesh Standard (BDS). Eight steps for obtaining Certification of Marks (CM) license. (a) Any Company/producer intends to use, Standard mark of BSTI in relation to any article or process, shall apply to the Institution for obtaining CM licence in a prescribed form. (b) After receiving the application along with necessary and relevant papers an inspection is being arranged and inspection report is prepared. (c) If the inspection report is found satisfactory, then samples are collected on random basis and those are jointly signed and sealed by the BSTI Officer and the producer. (d) The collected sample is tested in the BSTI Laboratory or any other laboratory approved by BSTI according to the relevant Bangladesh Standard (BDS) (e) If the results of the test parameters are found in conformity with the relevant BDS. a licence is granted in favour of that article. (f) Normally a licence is granted for a period of three years, which is being renewed, if the samples are found satisfactory after following the same procedure as has been described in sl.no. (b) (e), for a subsequent period of another threeyears. (g) A licence is to pay fees in favor of BSTI which is known as CM fee The break up of the CM fees are as follows (i) Application fee : Tk. 1000 for new and Tk. 500 for renewal (ii) Licence fee : Tk. 200/= per year. (ii) Marking Fee : Tk. 0.07% of Ex. factory price for fruit items and Tk. 0.10% of Ex. factory price for other items. For fruit items Min. fee Tk. 1250/= to Max. Tk. 10,00,000/= and for other items Min. fee Tk. 1875/= to 15,00,000/= (h) A licence granted in favour of any article can be cancelled, withdrawn or revoked at any time if it is found that the licence has violated any of the conditions specified in the licence and BSTI Ordinance as well.

5.e Metrology activities:

Metrology is the science of measurement. Measurements and metrology are essential to nearly all aspects of human endeavor, as they are used in activities ranging from production control, the measurement of environmental quality, the assessment of health and safety, and the testing of the quality of materials, food and other products to assure fair trade and consumer protection. Metrology is the science of correct and reliable measurement. In Bangladesh, BSTI looks after this.

5.f International Activities of BSTI:

BSTI is actively participating in the Standing Group for Standardization, Metrology, Testing and Quality Activities established by the south Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). This Standing group is working on harmonization of Standards, Mutual Recognition Agreements and capacity building in the field of metrology. The last meeting of the Standing Group was held on 2-4 February 2002 in New Delhi. The BSTI maintains relations with BIPM, OIML, APMP, WTO, ITC, codex A.C. of FAO and other international and regional organization. Quality control and information experts have been brought to the institution, using opportunities offered by the UNDP, BSTI experts attend meeting, seminars and workshops arranged and sponsored by WTO, ITC, SIDA of Sweden, ISO, PRODEC of Finland, INBAR, APMP, CSC, PORIM etc.

5.g. WTO-TBT activities in BSTI

Bangladesh is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 1 January 1995. Each WTO member must set up a National Enquiry Point which is able to answer all reasonable enquiries on standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, etc. from other members of WTO and other interested parties there.

5.h. Management System Certification (MSC) Cell:

BSTI has already taken a programme to operate Management System Certification against ISO 9001(Quality Management System), ISO 14000 (Environment Management System), ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System). In Bangladesh there are number of private certification agencies working for issuing system certification. BSTI is the only Govt. organization, which has started awarding Management System Certification in the country.

6. Development of BSTI:
6.a. On Going Development Projects of BSTI:
For better and efficient performance, BSTI has taken some steps recently. The ongoing projects are: 1. Establishment, Modernization & Development of Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution (BSTI) Regional Offices at Sylhet and Barisal. 2. Modernization of BSTI through Procurement of Sophisticated Equipment & Infrastructure Development of Laboratories for Accreditation. 3. Barrier Removal to the Cost-Effective Development and Implementation of Energy Standards & Labeling (BRESL). 4. Modernization and Strengthening of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).

6.b. Upcoming Development Projects of BSTI

1. Establishment of the office of South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) in Bangladesh. 2. Establishment of Calibration & Verification Facilities of CNG Mass Flow Meter for CNG Filing Station at regional level. 3. Better Quality Infrastructure of Better Work and Standards Programme (BEST). 4. Expansion and strengthening of BSTI (5 districts) 5. Establishment of Chemical Metrology Laboratory (CML) at NMI in BSTI.

7. Limitations of BSTI:
During our study we found out some limitations of BSTI, which we believe if removed may increase the efficiency of BSTI. Thus BSTI will be able to give better service to the mass people of Bangladesh. The limitations of BSTI: The manpower of BSTI is very low compared to the present actual need. The machines of BSTI have become old and they are using old technologies. So to increase efficiency BSTI must buy new machines with up to date technology. The legal jurisdiction of BSTI is more or less limited compared to the present scenario of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a developing country with more than 160 million people and BSTI is the only authority to ensure product safety for them. Another serious limitation we found is t he funding of BSTI. The organization runs on its own funding. And the fund is not enough for the proper functioning of this organization.

8. Recommendations:
As we have already said we have found out some limitations, but we want recommend some procedures which we believe will help BSTI to overcome those limitations and function smoothly.

BSTI needs to recruit more efficient, honest and energetic man power. The organization has to buy new machines with up to date technology to keep pace with the changing world. The legal jurisdiction of BSTI must be widened. Government has to provide more Magistrate and law enforcing persons to BSTI. So that they can ensure the laws regarding product safety are performed well. BSTI is the only agency in Bangladesh. But unfortunately the organization doesnt have enough fund to proper functioning and do more betterment for mass people. So government can provide a budget for BSTI. Different training programme can be conducted for employees of BSTI which will increase their efficiency. Government must take necessary steps to make BSTI a world class quality control and accreditation agency. Because if this is happened, the product of Bangladesh will have an extra value in the International Market.

9. Conclusion:
BSTI, the only NSB of Bangladesh is performing its noble task of setting national standards on various products and provide services to the exporters in sorting their problems out and giving advice to resolve those problems. Mention may be made that it is an established fact that for increasing the volume of export basket of a country, a very healthy and vibrant relationship between NSBs and TPOs is essentially required.

10. Bibiliography:
1. www.bsti.gov.bd 2. www.consumerbd.org 3. The Daily Star. 4. www.moind.gov.bd 5. www.unido.org 6. www.bssnews.net