Advertisement

Updated August 6th, 2018 at 20:14 IST

Plan to buy a trendy foreign-made helmet? ISI certification is now mandatory. Read here

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification restricting the sale and usage of all helmets without an ISI safety certification

Reported by: Anirudh Sunilkumar
| Image:self
Advertisement

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification restricting the sale and usage of all helmets without an ISI safety certification.

As per the notification, after a notice period of two months, any seller if found selling helmets without an ISI certification will be subjected to two years of imprisonment or a fine up to Rs 2 lakh. Subsequent fines would attract higher fines.

Not surprisingly, President of the Two Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Organization Rajeev Kapur, who is also to be the MD of Steelbird helmets welcomed the government’s decision and stated that helmet without an ISI certification are like 'fake medicines’.

READ: Volkswagen Adds 1.6-litre Diesel Engine To The T-Roc. Will Be Placed Below The 2.0-litre Diesel Engine

“This move is highly appreciated by the government and this decision would act as a master stroke and help in doing away with sale, manufacture, storage and use of NON-ISI marked helmets.” Kapur told a business daily. 

Premium helmets sold under foreign brands are included in the decision too. Foreign brands such as MT, Shoei, Shark, Bell and others should now adhere to the ISI standards failing which they could be discontinued in the country.

The notification gives the manufacturers and sellers two months of time to liquidate their stock and update it with ISI compliant helmets.

READ: Is Harley Davidson Going To Go All-out For India With An Entry-level Cruiser?

Additionally, the new helmets, as per the notification, would be lighter and airier for the comfort of the riders. The Bureau of Indian Standard issued updated guidelines for the manufacturers.

On one side, the move will put an end to the sale of low-quality helmets that can be seen being sold on the streets without any certification or warranty, while, on the other, it comes as a blow to those seeking to buy pricey helmets of foreign brands which possess different standard certification such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) of the US, Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), and the US' Snell certification. On previous occasions when such a mandate was applied, helmets complying with foreign standards were not recognised.

The notification comes after the BIS in March had recommended to a Supreme Court panel that the government was supposed to notify all the two-wheeler helmets-makers that their products should bear the requisite standard.

Advertisement

Published August 6th, 2018 at 15:46 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo