Smart Meters Quality Control Order Notification for Small Enterprises

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently issued the Smart Meters (Quality Control) Order, 2023, stipulating compliance with Indian Standards IS 16444 Part 1 for A.C. Static Direct Connected Watt Hour Smart Meter Class 1 and 2 and IS 16444 Part 2 for A.C. Static Transformer Operated Watthour and Var-Hour Smart Meters, Class 0.2S, 0.5S, and 1.0S. Effective six months from its publication, this order mandates that manufacturers ensure their products prominently display the ISI Mark. Small Enterprises, defined under The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, must adhere to these standards within nine months from the date of publication of this notification. Manufacturers are obligated to obtain the ISI Mark through a license issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards, following Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Goods produced domestically for export are exempt from this regulatory requirement. Compliance with these standards is crucial, as failure to do so may lead to penalties under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.