Latest news with #QualityControlOrders
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Domestic industry flags concern of rising Chinese PVC product imports
Infrastructure and agricultural growth in India may have created demand for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), mostly used in pipes and agri-based applications but carbide-based PVC imports from China are posing health and environmental hazards as well as damaging the domestic industry, said industry officials. These products, dumped into the Indian market at artificially low prices, contain Residual Vinyl Chloride Monomer (RVCM)—a Group 1 carcinogen—as high as 10ppm, significantly breaching India's permissible norms, they said. The current lack of stringent import quality enforcement risks turning India into a dumping ground for toxic and environmentally hazardous materials, while unfairly disadvantaging domestic manufacturers who meet all safety standards, they added. Unlike domestically-produced PVC, which adheres to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms, Chinese imports often bypass these checks, slipping through enforcement gaps in existing Quality Control Orders (QCOs). The result is not just a compromised public health situation but also an erosion of environmental safety. When exposed to sunlight or friction, these low-grade PVC products disintegrate into microplastics—contaminating water sources, soil, and potentially entire food chains, they said. Anupam Kaul, former Director & Head of the National Institute of Training for Standardization, said 'A key issue is the uncertainty created by government by frequently amending enforcement dates of the notified Quality Control Orders.' 'Technical regulations are instruments of law and once notified spur a series of actions by the affected parties - manufacturers, raw material suppliers, organised buyers, test houses, certification agencies. The actions include investments in technology upgrade, infrastructure, materials, skillsets to meet the BIS standards,' he said. 'There is a growing tendency among the regulating ministries including the DCPC, to notify a short lead period (3 to 6 months ) on the first go, and then keep extending its enforcement date depending on the volume of voices raised by the impacted parties, such as the powerful import lobbies,' he added. 'In some cases extensions have stretched by 2 to 3 years. Unlike the Regulations in EU and other countries that evaluate and prescribe an adequate time frame upfront for ensuring compliance (and stay with it), the Indian practice of frequent extensions plays havoc with the supply chains that remain on tenterhooks till the last moment, not knowing whether the next enforcement date is final or will be extended,' he said. 'In several cases, (such as stainless steel utensils, cabinet hinges) the extensions came retrospectively after months. This scenario not only undermines the diligence and efforts of manufacturers (including those overseas) who secure the BIS certifications at high costs, but also presents an unreliable policy regime to the world, defying the principles of ease of doing business,' he added. India's PVC pipe market is projected to grow at 14.2% CAGR, reaching $1.24 billion by 2033. But while demand grows, domestic capacity cannot keep pace, leaving India increasingly reliant on imports—primarily from China, the world's largest PVC exporter. The current lack of stringent import quality enforcement risks turning India into a dumping ground for toxic and environmentally hazardous materials, while unfairly disadvantaging domestic manufacturers who meet all safety standards,' industry officials said.
Malaysia Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
New steel import rule could disrupt supply chains and impose heavy compliance costs on MSMEs: GTRI
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): The recent regulation by the Ministry of Steel has the potential to disrupt supply chains and may impose heavy compliance costs on India's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). GTRI said 'the abrupt change could disrupt supply chains and impose heavy compliance costs on MSMEs reliant on imported semi-finished steel'. It adds that new regulation has triggered panic among MSMEs that depend on imported semi-finished steel, with fears of large-scale losses and plant closures The rule, issued by ministry on June 13, mandates that not just the finished or semi-finished steel products, but also the raw materials used to manufacture them must comply with Indian Standards (IS) and be registered on the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) portal. The move applies to all products covered under India's Quality Control Orders (QCOs). Earlier, foreign exporters could ship finished steel to India after getting certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). However, under the new regulation, their raw material, like billets, slabs, or hot-rolled coils, must also meet BIS standards. For instance, if a Malaysian firm supplies steel slabs to a Vietnamese company that converts them into steel sheets before being exported to India, both companies must now be BIS-certified. It also highlighted that many importers have already paid advances for shipments arriving between June and August, which now risk of being labelled non-compliant, even though contracts were signed months earlier. Adding to the concern is the exemption given to finished products like welded pipes from the new traceability rule. GTRI noted that there was no need for such compliance, especially when BIS officials already inspect and certify finished products at foreign factories. It added 'BIS certification for upstream suppliers can take six to nine months. Yet the Ministry has enforced the new traceability requirement with only three days' notice and no stakeholder consultation. Also, when BIS officials have already inspected and audited the products, say CR coils, at the foreign entity's facility physically and ensured compliance with the Indian standards, then where is the need to ensure the compliance of the raw material used to make it?' GTRI asks the government to reconsider the move with a warning that without relief or extension, the order could result in widespread factory closures and financial distress. (ANI)
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
New steel import rule could disrupt supply chains and impose heavy compliance costs on MSMEs: GTRI
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): The recent regulation by the Ministry of Steel has the potential to disrupt supply chains and may impose heavy compliance costs on India's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). GTRI said 'the abrupt change could disrupt supply chains and impose heavy compliance costs on MSMEs reliant on imported semi-finished steel'. It adds that new regulation has triggered panic among MSMEs that depend on imported semi-finished steel, with fears of large-scale losses and plant closures The rule, issued by ministry on June 13, mandates that not just the finished or semi-finished steel products, but also the raw materials used to manufacture them must comply with Indian Standards (IS) and be registered on the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) portal. The move applies to all products covered under India's Quality Control Orders (QCOs). Earlier, foreign exporters could ship finished steel to India after getting certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). However, under the new regulation, their raw material, like billets, slabs, or hot-rolled coils, must also meet BIS standards. For instance, if a Malaysian firm supplies steel slabs to a Vietnamese company that converts them into steel sheets before being exported to India, both companies must now be BIS-certified. It also highlighted that many importers have already paid advances for shipments arriving between June and August, which now risk of being labelled non-compliant, even though contracts were signed months earlier. Adding to the concern is the exemption given to finished products like welded pipes from the new traceability rule. GTRI noted that there was no need for such compliance, especially when BIS officials already inspect and certify finished products at foreign factories. It added 'BIS certification for upstream suppliers can take six to nine months. Yet the Ministry has enforced the new traceability requirement with only three days' notice and no stakeholder consultation. Also, when BIS officials have already inspected and audited the products, say CR coils, at the foreign entity's facility physically and ensured compliance with the Indian standards, then where is the need to ensure the compliance of the raw material used to make it?' GTRI asks the government to reconsider the move with a warning that without relief or extension, the order could result in widespread factory closures and financial distress. (ANI)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Steel min order on standards could hurt MSMEs; fear of losses, plant shutdowns: GTRI
A recent steel ministry order mandating BIS standards for imported semi-finished steel and their raw materials is causing concern among MSMEs. Effective June 16, the rule threatens losses and plant shutdowns as many businesses have shipments en route that may not comply. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Ind'l Goods/Svs 1. Bhushan Power and Steel lenders move SC for review of JSW Steel decision The steel ministry 's latest order on sectoral standards could hurt MSMEs dependent on semi-finished imports, as they now fear heavy losses and potential plant shutdowns, think tank GTRI said on said that the steel ministry's June 13 order has expanded India's quality control regime to ensure that not just BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) licensed products are imported in the country, but also the input/raw materials used to make them conform to the relevant Indian standards issued by order came into applies to shipments with a bill of lading dated June 16 onward."The rule has triggered fears of massive losses and plant closures among MSMEs that rely on imported semi-finished steel . Many have already paid for shipments now deemed non-compliant," the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) per the order, not only should finished/semi-finished steel products comply with Indian Standards (IS), but also the raw materials or inputs used to make change applies to all steel and steel products covered under Quality Control Orders (QCOs). Importers have to ensure that input materials such as slabs, billets, or hot-rolled coils that are used to make BIS-certified steel in the foreign factory also need to adhere to the relevant BIS standard."India's sudden expansion of its steel import rules has sparked fears of major losses among small manufacturers. Industry groups say the new order gives businesses no time to comply," GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava added that importers now risk seeing their shipments declared non-compliant, even if contracts were signed months ago and goods are already in said that critics, too, have questioned the feasibility and need for this certification for upstream suppliers can take six to nine months, yet the Ministry has enforced the new traceability requirement with only three days' notice and no stakeholder consultation, he added.
India.com
12-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Bad news for Nike, Adidas lovers in India as they may vanish from Indian stores due to...
Bad news for Nike, Adidas lovers in India as they may vanish from Indian stores due to... The Narendra Modi government has been pushing for 'Make in India' intiative. And it is being implified across sectors. If reports are to be believed, there is no good news for lovers of expensive foreign sports footwear and other premium products: like Nike, Adidas, and Puma may vanish from Indian shelves by the end of 2026. According to reports, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will physically inspect the famous brands factories in different parts of the world and only then will provide certification. A range of products – 730 to be precise – are now subject to what are called Quality Control Orders (QCOs) and must carry the BIS quality stamp. Other than the luxury products, items like pressure cookers, gas stoves, battery cells, mobile chargers as well as industrial products such as cement and steel strips. Crucially, all toys aimed at children under 14 must also be BIS-certified. The QCO list exploded from 180 to 730 products. The change has been driven in part by commerce minister Piyush Goyal, who's pushing hard to expand the QCO net. The government has made its position clear and said that products sold in India should meet high standards, as they do in developed countries. Then, in March, the BIS launched coordinated nationwide raids on Amazon and Flipkart warehouses across cities including Lucknow, Delhi, Gurgaon – and even down south in Coimbatore, Sriperumbudur, and Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu. The BIS seized thousands of items deemed substandard or lacking the BIS quality control seal. From one Flipkart warehouse, hundreds of sports shoes worth around ₹6 lakh were seized. Shoes and toys were two of the major categories confiscated, alongside stainless steel water bottles – mostly from major manufacturers. There's no doubt the government's goal – to make Indian products synonymous with world-class quality – is laudable. However, not many companies are in favour of the way, the government is bringing the quality control under its ambit.
