Government to impose quality barrier against substandard Chinese goods

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) plans to bring about 70 Quality Control Orders (QCO) for these products ranging from cotton bales and furniture to smart meters, sporting goods, fire extinguishers and wood-based boards. Used to be. ,

According to an internal comment reviewed by PeppermintThe Department’s top priorities are QCOs on 53 chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention, 35 chemicals under the Stockholm Convention and 47 chemicals under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

While the Rotterdam Convention was designed to facilitate informed decision-making by countries on the trade of hazardous chemicals, the Stockholm Convention aims to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.

DPIIT is conducting stakeholder consultations for 31 draft QCOs covering 171 products including cookware and utensils, pumps, bolts, air cookers, nuts and bicycles.

The nodal department has already come up with 11 draft QCOs covering 55 products, including construction products and sanitary ware, which are being examined by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The government is also developing product-specific online tool boxes for easy access to standards and procedures for certification by small and medium enterprises.

It is conducting exposure visits for SMEs to acquaint them with quality control measures and tools.

So far, DPIIT has issued around 34 QCOs covering 134 products, while Ministry of Steel has issued one QCO covering 145 products.

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has issued 58 QCOs covering 53 products, and the Ministry of Textiles has issued one QCO covering six products. Further, 151 textile products have been identified for QCO.

For 19 geotextile products and 12 protective textile products, the Ministry of Textiles has circulated the draft QCOs and circulated to stakeholders for consultation.

Earlier, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to e-commerce entities, Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal for sale of toys for violation of standards prescribed by the Union Government for use as mandated by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public did. Distribution said in a statement.

The CCPA has sought response from the e-commerce entities within 7 days of issuing the notice, failing which necessary action may be initiated against them under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

President Draupadi Murmu, in his Budget Day speech, said that imports of toys have declined by 70% while exports have increased by more than 60% following the government’s efforts to boost manufacturing. In July 2022, the Bureau of Indian Standards published 10 Indian Standards on safety aspects of toys relating to physical safety, chemical safety, flammability, electrical safety, etc. The purpose of these standards was to prevent the use of unsafe and toxic materials in the manufacture of toys.

Queries sent to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry remained unanswered till press time.