New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): Every Quality Control Order (QCO) introduced so far has eventually earned the support of the sectors because they have not only improved product quality but also helped Indian manufacturers access larger markets, said Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
The government is committed to building a system that ensures consumer safety and industry competitiveness, stated Minister Piyush Goyal, while emphasising the importance of implementing QCOs for electrical appliances at the Stakeholder Meet convened by DPIIT in New Delhi this week.
The meet discussed the issues being faced by the industry in the implementation of the Horizontal QCO on “Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances,” notified by DPIIT on September 20, 2024. The industry presented their concerns and highlighted issues faced by them.
According to a statement from the Commerce Ministry, the industry overwhelmingly supported the intent behind QCOs to ensure only high-quality products are manufactured and sold in India. However, they requested that QCOs be notified for finished goods first, followed by QCOs on components and raw materials, considering the complexity of global supply chains.
They also recommended mapping domestic manufacturing capacities and available technologies to align compliance timelines. A phased rollout was also proposed.
Major concerns raised by the industry included the following:
- Ambiguity regarding the coverage of DC-supplied appliances and battery-operated appliances;
- Non-availability of product manuals and test labs for all 85 appliances included in the illustrative list;
- Lack of certification by domestic manufacturers as well as foreign manufacturers;
- Insufficient time available for obtaining BIS certification for both domestic and foreign manufacturers;
- Issues related to legacy stock; and
- Non-acceptance of non-BIS marked products on e-commerce platforms.
During the meeting, the Commerce Minister acknowledged the concerns raised by the industry and agreed to consider the request to extend the implementation timeline of the QCO, as well as the issue of legacy stock.
He requested the industry to come up with proposals for setting up more testing facilities with modern technology in publicly funded labs, labs in public sector enterprises, and labs in State Government institutions, so that robust and accessible testing infrastructure will be made available for the industry pan-India.
Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, mentioned that “the Ministry remains firmly committed to a consultative and collaborative approach in implementing QCOs. Together, let us ensure that ‘Made in India’ globally stands for safety, quality, and trust.”
DPIIT is working towards ensuring sectoral readiness for the QCO and identifying gaps in testing infrastructure to ensure a smooth rollout. DPIIT is closely working with BIS to streamline the testing and certification ecosystem, making it more accessible, efficient, and affordable, particularly for MSMEs.
The meeting witnessed the proactive participation of representatives from leading industry players and industry associations like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, CEAMA, RAMA, ICEA, IFMA, SMTA, as well as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
(ANI)
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