The Electrical Lamp and Component Manufacturers Association (Elcoma) is finalising norms for LED lighting and equipment and is expected to come out with the report shortly.

Mr. C.G.S.Mani, President of the Association told Business Line that the general norms for Light Emitting Diode (LED) based products are being finalised. This is crucial for standardisation of products to be sold with proper certification in the country. The norms finalised by the Elcoma are now under scrutiny by the LED committee of Elcoma.

A decision to evolve standards for LED lighting was taken after cheap imports flooded the country. The norms being charted out in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Standards and Bureau of Energy Efficiency are aimed at standardisation of various products and specifications including the wattage.

These include the need to secure certification from ISI to be able to sell LED products in the country. So one cannot just sell the products without proper certification of designated authority, he said

"We have had bad experience when the country began to take to CFL lamps. Several manufacturers from China had dumped lamps into India at low prices. Many of the cheaper products did not conform to standards," he said.

These imports had adverse impact on the manufacturers in the country and also the end consumer. Elcoma realised this after some time. This forced us to request the Government to impose anti-dumping norms for CFL bulbs, Mr. Mani said.

"As a national body we feel these norms will play important role as the LED industry is just beginning to grow. Last year the overall market size was about Rs. 500 crore," he said.

rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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