In an effort to decrease the import of subpar items and support homegrown manufacturing, the centre on Monday announced mandatory quality standards for drums, tin containers, and copper products.
According to an official statement made on Monday, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has published two different notifications: the Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2023 and the Drums and Tins (Quality Control) Order, 2023. Both were published on October 20.
Strict guidelines will apply to the manufacture, distribution, trading, importation, and storage of goods coming within these orders’ jurisdiction. To guarantee that they fulfil the required quality standards, these products must have the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark.
As mentioned in their official announcement, the DPIIT has indicated that the implementation of these orders will begin six months after the date of publication.
A wide range of industries, including telecommunications, electrical circuits, power production, power transmission, and appliances, depend heavily on copper and its alloys. Copper products must be pure and of the highest quality, and these standards are meant to protect and ensure that they are just that.
These orders encompass nine different categories of copper products, such as wire rods for electrical applications, solid drawn copper and copper tubes for heat exchangers and condensers, and wrought copper tubes for air conditioning and refrigeration.
“In order to safeguard the domestic small/micro industries, ensure smooth implementation of the QCO and Ease of Doing Business, relaxations have been granted to small/micro industries as regards to timelines, additional three months have been given to small industries and an additional six months to micro industries,” according to PTI.
Comparably, tins and drums are primarily employed for the transportation and storage of a variety of dangerous, combustible, and toxic materials. They are extensively employed in a variety of sectors, including as food services, healthcare, and trash management.
It further stated that in order to prevent leaks, adulteration, and fire damage, high-quality drums and tins are essential.
In collaboration with BIS and other relevant parties, DPIIT has been identifying essential items for QCO notification. As a result, more than 60 new QCOs encompassing 318 product standards have been developed, according to the statement.
If BIS Act provision is broken, there is a minimum punishment of Rs 2 lakh or a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
Second and subsequent offences will result in a fine that is up to ten times the value of the goods or articles, with a minimum of Rs 5 lakh.
The department is working on a number of projects, such as QCO, to increase quality awareness among businesses and consumers alike.
It was stated that these steps will contribute to the establishment of a quality ecosystem in the nation, along with the creation of product manuals and quality testing facilities.
In addition to preventing unfair trade practices and promoting consumer safety and well-being, mandatory QCOs also aid in reducing the import of subpar goods.
These programs would support the creation of a high-quality environment in the nation, as would the creation of testing labs, product manuals, and test lab certification.
In the past, these kinds of orders have been placed for a variety of products, including smart metres, household gas stoves, fire extinguishers, cookware and utensils, welding rods and electrodes, and electric ceiling fans.
