Withdrawal of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 14 Items
The Centre has decided to withdraw quality control orders for 14 items, including plastics, polymers, synthetic fibres, and yarns. This decision follows the recommendation of a high-level committee led by Rajiv Gauba, a member of NITI Aayog.
Objective of the Decision
- Aims to ease compliance burdens on industries.
- Intended to improve raw material availability for downstream industries.
Implementation Details
The orders were rescinded "in public interest" after consultations with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), effective from November 12. This directive was issued by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
Impact on Industry
- Items like 100% polyester spun yarn and viscose staple fibres no longer require BIS certification for import or sale.
- The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) described the decision as a "pro-growth measure."
Background and Recommendations
- An internal report suggested the cancellation of QCOs for over 200 products due to increased compliance burdens.
- Recommended scrapping 27 QCOs covering plastics, polymers, base metals, footwear, and electronic components.
Concerns and Benefits
- QCOs raised raw material costs, affecting manufacturing competitiveness.
- Removing these orders would improve the cost competitiveness of Indian textile and apparel products.
Industry Feedback
CITI Chairman Ashwin Chandran highlighted that the measure would contribute to the growth of the man-made fibre segment by making it easier to obtain raw materials at internationally competitive prices.
