RAI delegation had a fruitful meeting with Shri. Barun Kumar Ray (IAS), Addl. Chief Secretary (Labour Department), & Smt. Sharmila Khatua (Labour Commissioner), Government of West Bengal.
Delegation discussed about 24×7 operational permission in the State. The Hon’ble Secretary has asked the Labour Commissioner and officials present in the meeting to look into the matter.
He assured us that he will consider 24x7 food home delivery for restaurants and QSRs. The meeting ended with a positive note.
We shall keep you posted on any development.
RAI is pleased to report the successful implementation of the MSME Empowerment Programme directed by the National Council of Retailers Association of India, and executed by RAI.
The first programme with the support of the Retailers Food Dealer Welfare Association was conducted for retailers in Mumbai, on 27th March and was a great success.
The second programme was conducted for retailers in Lucknow on 16th April.
Around 90 small and micro retailers, who were keen to learn and improve their businesses, attended both the programmes.
An Interactive workshop on The Food Safety and Standards Regulations was conducted in Hyderabad on 15th March. The workshop saw participation of around 25 participants and RAI received excellent feedback for the workshop.
RAI had a very fruitful meeting with Shri Arvind Kumar, the Special Chief Secretary of Govt of Telangana and discussed wrt prohibition on primary plastic packaging. Pls find RAI’S submission as under:
The Honorable Secretary assured us that he will consider our representation.
We shall keep you updated.
RAI was invited by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs - Government of India for a meeting on implementation of hallmarking of Gold Jewellery in India. The meeting was chaired by Honorable Secretary - Shri Rohit Kumar Singh; Honorable Additional Secretary - Smt Nidhi Khare and Honorable DG: BIS - Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari.
RAI had submitted a representation to Ministry of Consumer Affairs and requested for six months extension of Mandatory Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery or Gold Artefacts post 31st March, 2023. Pls find RAI's submission below:
Honorable Secretary patiently heard our views and assured that the Ministry will soon take a decision wherein the stakeholders won't face any issues in implementation of the said amendment.
RAI was invited for a meeting chaired by Mr Rajeev Thakur, AS, DPIIT and Mr Pramod Kumar Tiwari - DG, BIS and Mr HJS Pasricha - Deputy DG, BIS on 2 March 2023 at BIS headquarters to discuss QCOs for footwear.
The following were the points discussed:-
1. Initially testing should be based on self-certification and we should agree on a road map to create labs as well as spread awareness in the Industry.
2. The existing inventory/ goods produced before 30th June 2023 should not be under the BIS purview as in our industry every shoe has a hand tag which states clearly month and year of Manufacture and that should be good enough to differentiate. Officials mentioned that they will get back quickly.
3. So far no standards have been published on both Children and clogs categories. These will be discussed subsequently.
4. As a lot of FDIs are expected to flow into the country and there is a panic in the International brands community with fears on on market access. We suggested that international brands especially sports footwear brands who follow either EU or American standards which are much higher than the current draft BIS standards proposed, should be allowed to import based on self-declaration.
5. Consider marking on Shoe box: To this the authorities expressed apprehension. We need to find a solution and go back to them.
Concluding remarks by DG - BIS:
1. For first year, there will be hand holding. There will be NO Inspector Raj.
2. For domestic manufacturers having units in India, license will be given quickly the moment factory visit happens i.e. within 15 days. Process will be very close to self-certification. Renewal is automatic Subject to timely payment of renewal fee.
Foreign visit by BIS officials is only once at the beginning. BIS is open to suggestions and the meeting ended on a positive note.
Meeting was attended by representatives from Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd; Puma; Adidas; Skechers; Trent; Reliance; Bata; Nike; H&M; Decathlon along with RAI Team.
RAI delegation had a fruitful meeting on 3 February 2023 with Karnataka Government to discuss Trade Licenses and Online drug license challenges faced by the retailers in the state of Karnataka.
The meeting was chaired by Dr E V Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary - Commerce & Industries, Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka. It was also attended by officials of BBMP, Health Ministry and Managing Director of VTPC.
The retail delegation requested the Government to reconsider the applicability of Trade license on non- food retail business and also challenges faced by the business on online processing of Trade license.
The Hon’ble Secretary assured the delegation that he will look in to the matter. He directed BBMP to work towards complete online automation of Trade license (from application to generation of license online).
We shall keep you posted once we hear back from the Government.
RAI delegation had a fruitful meeting with Smt Anju Sharma- Principal Secretary, Labour/Skill Development/Employment & Shri Anupam Anand, Labour Commissioner, Government of Gujarat.
Delegation discussed about 24×7 operational issue in the State.
Hon. PS has requested a proposal for Skill Development & Employment in the state. She has assured us, that she will consider our request for 24*7, once we send her proposal for Skill Development & Employment in the state.
The meeting ended with a positive note.
With regards to the prohibition on serving/sale of Non-vegetarian dishes within 10 km radius of Air Force station Yelahanka from 30th January 2023 to 20th February 2023 due to Aero India–2023, RAI had submitted a representation to the authorities to exempt restaurants from this prohibition. Please click on the link below to view RAI's submission:
We are pleased to inform that the authorities have accepted RAI recommendation provided the restaurants agree to the proper disposal of meat waste without dumping it in the open
On 21 March 2023, RAI was invited for a meeting chaired by Shri Ajay Kumar Lal - Scientist, BIS to discuss QCOs for footwear. A delegation of 30 footwear retailers representing international brands attended the meeting.
There were detailed discussions on practical difficulties faced by members on various standards. Mr Lal gave a patient hearing. Members were asked to submit all the concerns with technical explanation and possible solution in writing.
Delegation had also raised that the existing inventory/ goods produced before 30th June 2023 should not be under the BIS purview. Mr Lal suggested to take the issue with DPIIT.
Further to a series of meetings and discussions with DPIIT on BIS regulations on footwear, RAI had submitted the following representation to the Department to support the Indian Footwear Retail industry with sufficient compliance time-frame:
We shall keep you posted once we hear back from the Department.