BIS Seizes 579 Plywood Sheets with Fake ISI Marks in Chennai

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has seized 579 plywood sheets bearing spurious ISI marks during an enforcement search and seizure operation at a hardware shop and its godown in Chennai.

A team from the BIS Chennai branch office conducted the operation on August 25 under Section 28 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, with assistance from the police.

During the raid, officials discovered plywood carrying fake BIS standard marks and invalid BIS licence details, which were in violation of the BIS Act and relevant quality control orders. The seized stock was sealed for further investigation and legal proceedings.

The confiscated materials comprised general-purpose plywood under standard IS 303 as well as marine plywood under standard IS 710, spanning multiple grades, types, sizes, and thicknesses.

At the hardware shop, officials found 21 sheets marked with spurious ISI marks and IS 303 details, along with 17 sheets bearing spurious ISI marks and IS 710 details. An additional 541 sheets were discovered and seized from the accompanying godown, bringing the total count of seized items to 579.

Plywood products fall under mandatory BIS certification as outlined in the Plywood and Wooden Flush Door Shutters Quality Control Orders, 2024.

S.D. Dayanand, senior director and head of the BIS Chennai branch office, stated that the agency will continue stringent enforcement measures to prevent the misuse of standard marks and to curb the circulation of substandard products in the market.

Under the provisions of the BIS Act, the offence of using spurious standard marks can attract imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of at least ₹2 lakh, or both.