India notifies Quality Control Order for NOx Reduction Agent to WTO

On 13 September 2023 the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India notified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of a new Quality Control Order (QCO),  Diesel Engines — NOx Reduction Agent AUS 32 (Quality Control) Order, 2023. The purpose of the QCO is to ensure that diesel engines comply with the Indian standard as amended from time to time with respect to the -  NOx reducer AUS 32. The deadline for comments is 60 days from the date of notification. 

Conformity to standard and compulsory use of Standard Mark 

The purpose of the order is to ensure that locally manufactured or imported goods conform to the Indian standard IS 17042 (Part I) 2020/ISO 22241-1:2019 and bear the standard mark under license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as per Schedule II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations 2018. The use of the standard mark is governed by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and the rules and regulations made thereunder. The Bureau of Indian Standards is the certification and enforcement agency. 

NOx Reduction Agent AUS 32  

The NOx reduction agent AUS32 is an aqueous urea solution which is used as a NOx reduction agent in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) converter system of a motor vehicle powered by a diesel engine. SCR converter systems are used to selectively reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel engines. 

Aqueous solution of urea or diesel engines - NOx Reduction Agent AUS 32 is technically pure urea and pure water with a urea content of 32.5% (mass fraction), which is used as a NOx reduction agent in the SCR converter system. Technically pure urea is an industrially produced urea with CAS number 57-13-6, which has the following characteristics: 

• contains only small amounts of biuret, ammonia, and water 

• does not contain aldehydes or other substances such as anti-caking agents 

• does not contain pollutants such as sulfur and its compounds, chloride, nitrate or other compounds  

The manufacturer produces the final AUS 32 product by diluting virgin urea, concentrated urea solution or by dissolving solid urea. 

Timeline 

The proposed date for adoption of the QCO is not yet decided. It will enter into force 180 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.