Centre Announces 3 QCOs For 7 Non-ferrous Refined Metal Items
The Ministry of Mines has notified three Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for seven items on Thursday after due process of notification of Technical Regulations. These QCOs will come into effect in three months and mark the first technical regulations from the Ministry of Mines under the BIS Act, the Ministry of Mines said in a statement.
The QCO for Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys mandates compulsory certification under the appropriate Indian Standards (IS) for the domestic production and import of aluminium and aluminium alloy (ingots and casting); high purity primary aluminium ingot; aluminium alloy ingots for bearings; primary aluminium ingots for remelting and aluminium ingots, billets and wire bars (EC grade). The remaining two QCOs provide appropriate IS standards for copper and for nickel powder.
According to the ministry, the three QCOs have been notified after an elaborate process comprising consultations with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and with relevant industry associations and stakeholders, including hosting of the draft QCOs on the website of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for a 60-day period for inviting comments from member countries.
The statement also said that the Ministry is laying emphasis on strengthening the quality control eco-system for the non-ferrous metals sector in the country. For that, the Ministry is in constant consultation with BIS for the preparation of more QCOs on upstream products (refined metal) in the non-ferrous metal value chain.
The development of mandatory QCOs helps curb the import of sub-standard products, prevent unfair trade practices, and ensure the supply of quality products to domestic consumers including industrial users. The notified QCOs will ensure the standard and quality of aluminium metal and alloys, copper and nickel to the benefit of the user industry. At the same time, the QCOs will ensure Indian product quality in these items akin to global standards, and enhance the brand value of ‘Make in India’ in the international market.
