Promoting Quality and Safety: The QCO for ‘Resin Treated Compressed Wood Laminates’ mandates the compulsory certification under IS Standard for ‘Resin Treated Compressed Wood Laminates (compregs)- for electrical, chemical, and general purposes.’ This certification will apply to products intended for the domestic market or imported into India. Similarly, the QCO for ‘Insulated Flask, Bottles, and Containers for Domestic Use’ requires products such as ‘Insulated Flask for Domestic Use,’ ‘Domestic Stainless Steel Vacuum Flask/Bottle,’ and ‘Insulated Container for Food Storage’ to obtain the IS Standards certification before being sold in the Indian market.

Prime Minister’s Emphasis on Quality: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of manufacturing top-quality products, highlighting the credibility and capability of Indian products to gain global recognition. This endeavor aligns with the ethos of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India), which aims to propel India as a force multiplier for global prosperity.

A Mandatory Certification Scheme: Unlike voluntary Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Standards, QCO is a compulsory certification scheme initiated by the Central Government. It mandates compliance with specified Indian Standards for the relevant products, with the objective of curbing imports of sub-standard goods, preventing unfair trade practices, and enhancing the quality of domestically manufactured products to ensure public health, animal and plant safety, and environmental protection.

Benefits and Implementation: The introduction of QCOs is expected to elevate the manufacturing quality standards in India, enhance the brand value of ‘Made in India’ products, and develop a robust quality ecosystem. DPIIT has been working closely with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to develop 64 new QCOs, covering 317 product standards. Key industry associations and stakeholders are actively participating in extensive consultations to provide their inputs and comments for each QCO.

Timeline and Industry Engagement: After incorporating industry comments, the draft QCOs receive approval from the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry before undergoing legal vetting by the Department of Legislative Affairs. The QCOs are then made available on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) website for a 60-day period, inviting comments from member countries.

Safeguarding Micro and Small Industries: To ensure a smooth implementation of QCOs and support the domestic micro and small industries, relaxations have been granted in terms of the timeline for compliance.

Penalties for Non-Compliance: Post-implementation, manufacturing, storing, and selling non-BIS certified products will be prohibited under the BIS Act, 2016. Violations of this provision can attract penalties of imprisonment up to two years or fines starting from Rs 2 lakh for the first offense. Subsequent offenses may result in fines up to ten times the value of the goods or articles.

Building an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’: These initiatives by the Government of India aim to foster the development of world-class, high-quality products within the country, in line with the vision of creating an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” or a Self-reliant India. By prioritizing quality control and consumer safety, India aims to enhance its standing in the global marketplace and promote a culture of excellence in manufacturing.