16 product categories to be added under QCO in 2023-24 India

On 20 December 2022 the Indian Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a notice for bringing 50 products under the 16 categories of mandatory quality control orders (QCOs) by the second quarter of 2023-24. 

According to the notice the QCOS comes into force next year and the items under this order need to be certified as compliant with the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and cannot be produced, sold, traded, imported, or stocked unless they are marked by the BIS denoting the quality certification. 

In case of imported goods, the BIS states that orders applicable to domestically produced goods shall apply to imported products and they will be subjected to the same mandatory compliance. Thus, for these imported products, manufacturers in foreign country will be required to obtain a license from the BIS under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) of the standards organization. 

Any person who violates the provisions of the QCOs will be punishable with fine, imprisonment, or both under the BIS Act. 

The QCOs are: 

• Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Products (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Bolts, Nuts and Fasteners (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Ceiling Fan Regulator (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Conduits and Fittings for Electrical Installation (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Copper Products (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Deepwell Handpumps and Components (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Drum and Tin (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Hand Tools (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Hinges (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Household and similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Laboratory Glassware (Quality Control) Order 2023. 

• Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Steel Wires/Strands, Nylon/Wire Ropes and Wire Mesh (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Valves and Taps (Quality Control) Order 2023 

• Welding Wires, Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order 2023.