Underwriters Laboratories and Bureau of Indian Standards Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Longtime partners formalize agreement to advance standards development in India

BENGALURU, India – April 12, 2021 – Underwriters Laboratories, a U.S. based global standards developer, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national standards body of India, have signed a joint memorandum of understanding (MOU), formalizing an agreement to work together for the progress of the standardization system in India.

The MOU is the latest development for both organizations in their shared history of co-hosting workshops, roundtables and other events to foster safety and standardization in India. While Underwriters Laboratories and BIS have collaborated prior to the MOU signing, the agreement specifies joint goals and initiatives for moving forward. 

Under the terms of the MOU, both agree to promote reciprocal communication, avoid duplication of work efforts where possible and increase knowledge of each other’s standards development activities. Both organizations also agreed to utilize UL resources to strengthen the Indian standards system and allow for the acceptance and use of UL Standards in India where deemed appropriate by BIS.

The organizations have partnered for many years to to drive safety through standardization, including the co-hosting of workshops, roundtables and other events to convene experts and share information. 

“This is a great partnership and a boost to our continued effort towards facilitating standards development in India,” said Phil Piqueira, vice president of global standards at Underwriters Laboratories. “We are committed to supporting BIS in building a cohesive, quality ecosystem with global standards as its foundation. We are honored to sign this MOU, and we are looking forward to building a stronger relationship with BIS as we work on standards development together.” 

BIS provided the following statement regarding the MOU:

"With the strategic considerations to develop a comprehensive ecosystem for standards development in India by adopting the best international practices and creating a response mechanism to meet the standardization challenges, BIS has developed the Standards National Action Plan (SNAP). One of the objective of SNAP is harmonizing national standards with international standards providing opportunities for industries to be globally competitive and improve market access and to facilitate the adoption of global standards. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is one such organization that has developed standards with wide, global acceptance. Accordingly, BIS has signed an MOU with UL. Through this MOU, BIS expects to receive wholehearted cooperation from UL to strengthen its standardization activity, stated Bureau on the MOU between BIS and UL."

The agreement was signed virtually by both parties.

About the Bureau of Indian Standards

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the National Standards Body of India, established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number of ways – providing safe reliable quality goods; minimizing health hazards to consumers; promoting exports and imports substitute; control over proliferation of varieties etc. through standardization, certification and testing. Learn More About the Bureau of Indian Standards

About Underwriters Laboratories

Underwriters Laboratories is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the UL public safety mission through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being. Learn More About Underwriters Laboratories