Centre To Exempt Inputs Used In Export Products From Quality Control Orders: Here's What It Means

The central government has decided to exempt inputs used in products meant for export from quality control orders (QCOs) according to a report from The Economic Times.

These crucial changes have been notified by Directorate General of Foreign Trade to the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.

Under the quality control regime, manufacturers must obtain prior approvals from the Bureau of Indian Standards certifying compliance for selling regulated items in the country.

Import of goods under the QCO regime is also restricted, with a window for only pre-certified products into the country.

In February, the Centre introduced a new directive covering 145 steel products from stainless steel pipes and tubes to primary cells and primary battery parts.

The QCO also mentions that defective steel products, which do not comply with specified standards, will be disposed of as scrap.

This covers steel chequered plates, mild steel for metal arc welding electrodes, and mild steel wire rods for general engineering purposes, among others.

Earlier, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade had highlighted a QCO for copper products, covering copper wire rods for electrical applications, copper bars for electrical purposes, and copper strips for electrical purposes, among others.

Earlier, it had notified quality control on bicycles, retro reflective devices, refrigerating appliances, safety-glass, and footwear, among others.

The Textiles Ministry has also notified controls on geo, protective, agro, and medical textiles.