SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH (Issue of quality certificates to industries)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Finance how many quality certificates have been issued to various industries by the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research; and what encouragement is being given to firms to qualify for such certificates.

The Minister of State for Finance (Mr Tang See Chim) (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Quality Certificate Scheme was initiated in August 1969 and by June this year 21 certificates had been awarded for various products. A further 28 are at present under pre-certification testing and 21 additional applications for acceptance into this Scheme have been received by the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR).

The Government attaches great importance to the production of quality products by our industries, and every encouragement is being given to firms to qualify for such certificates. The technical divisions of the Economic Development Board, that is, the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research, the Light Industries Services, the Enginering Industries Development Agency and the National Productivity Centre provide technical services to industries and help to organise seminars and courses to promote quality con sciousness among our industries and workers. As an additional incentive, the Government has decided that all Government departments and statutory bodies will give preference to the purchase of products which have been awarded the Quality Certificate by SISIR. The best encouragement and incentive, however, would be the recognition of the Quality Certificate and the purchase of such certificated products by the public at large.