Govt lines up more sops for SMEs going in for EU certification
The government is toying with the idea of providing monetary support to SMEs in getting CE (Conformite Europeene) certificates for their products.
By Ratna Ganguli, TNN |
KOLKATA: The Centre, which is encouraging quality upgradation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through a slew of incentives, plans to offer more sops to improve their products’ ratings in the world market. The government is toying with the idea of providing monetary support to SMEs in getting CE (Conformite Europeene) certificates for their products, a move that is expected to boost exports to Europe.
Before making up its mind on the new offer, the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) has sought a proposal from one of its arms, the MSME Development Institute. At present, the ministry provides grants to SMEs for getting ISO certificates for manufacturing processing. The grant is provided for adoption of ISO certificates in the series of 9001, 14001 and HACCP at the rate of Rs 75,000 or 75% of the standardisation implementation cost, whichever is higher.
Often referred to as passport to Europe, the CE-marked certificates on non-EU products ensure better price realisation in those markets. The CE mark on a product certifies that the product has met EU health, safety and environmental requirements, which ensure consumer and workplace safety.
Once CE certificates for a product is obtained from the competent authorities, despatch of the product to EU nations should be accompanied with that certificate, technical documents relating to the certification, along with other quality certificates.
When exports to Europe from Indian SMEs are gradually on the rise, time has come for all Indian SMEs to get CE certificates for their products from notified authorities, said a senior official of MSME Development Institute.
Following the hike in the investment cap for small scale units from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore and that of medium scale enterprises from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore, it is presumed that overall exports from the SME sector would rise substantially, with no exception to EUs.
As majority of SMEs are still not aware of the advantage of marking their products with CE certificates, MSME Development Institute has initiated awareness programmes through all its regional offices.
Before making up its mind on the new offer, the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) has sought a proposal from one of its arms, the MSME Development Institute. At present, the ministry provides grants to SMEs for getting ISO certificates for manufacturing processing. The grant is provided for adoption of ISO certificates in the series of 9001, 14001 and HACCP at the rate of Rs 75,000 or 75% of the standardisation implementation cost, whichever is higher.
Often referred to as passport to Europe, the CE-marked certificates on non-EU products ensure better price realisation in those markets. The CE mark on a product certifies that the product has met EU health, safety and environmental requirements, which ensure consumer and workplace safety.
Once CE certificates for a product is obtained from the competent authorities, despatch of the product to EU nations should be accompanied with that certificate, technical documents relating to the certification, along with other quality certificates.
When exports to Europe from Indian SMEs are gradually on the rise, time has come for all Indian SMEs to get CE certificates for their products from notified authorities, said a senior official of MSME Development Institute.
Following the hike in the investment cap for small scale units from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore and that of medium scale enterprises from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore, it is presumed that overall exports from the SME sector would rise substantially, with no exception to EUs.
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As majority of SMEs are still not aware of the advantage of marking their products with CE certificates, MSME Development Institute has initiated awareness programmes through all its regional offices.
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