NEW DELHI: After announcing standards for electronic items such as charging sockets and video surveillance systems, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has set its sight on standards for e-commerce.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, through BIS, has begun assessing the need for such standards following move by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to issue international standards for e-commerce or live commerce.
BIS has sought comments from members of its retail, e-commerce and e-payment services sectional committee after the ISO floated a ballot to register a new proposal on e-commerce.
The norms specify that the ISO will start the process of issuing new international standards by seeking a vote from member countries on whether a preliminary working item should be issued. Member countries then examine the proposal in the context of any policies or rules and trade interests.
According to a member of the BIS committee, the international standards body’s request for comments has been received by companies. Officials are examining whether to follow the ISO guidelines or to customise as per market need.
The committee includes representatives from companies such as Amazon India, Flipkart, Tata group, Reliance Industries, Paytm, Shiprocket, BigBasket, and others.