Government’s focus on quality in wood industry: Industry has adopted QCO

:Piyush Goyal: Minister of Commerce and Industry:

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the QCO aims to promote domestic manufacturing and curb substandard imports. These measures will help India to establish itself as a manufacturing powerhouse, ensuring better and safer products for consumers.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the plywood and MDF board industry has agreed to implement the mandatory quality control norms. As they have realized the long term benefits of adhering to high quality standards. He said that India is introducing modern standards which are at par with the standards prevalent in other parts of the world, especially developed countries.

The Minister said that India’s constant focus on quality is now being recognized and appreciated within the country as well as internationally.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had stressed the need for quality control standards for plywood, MDF boards and other wood products to boost domestic manufacturing and cut down imports of substandard goods.

Which has been accepted by the Indian wood industry after initial resistance. Now QCO will be fully implemented on wood products produced domestically or imported.

The minister said that we held continuous meetings with the industrialists for this. Ultimately the industry itself has realized the need to focus on high quality standards, especially when they are already producing that quality.

He said that a few days ago, industry representatives from several wood based industries manufacturers across the country met and requested that QCO must be imposed on these products on its scheduled time.

Goyal said, “I think it is gradually spreading to more and more sectors that this (QCO) will help India’s manufacturing sector to grow.” The government is creating a strong quality ecosystem in India. The aim is to emphasize on superior and safety compliant products to take the economy to higher levels of growth and development.

As part of this effort, these orders are being rapidly initiated by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for critical products affecting consumer safety. These QCOs have the right ingredients to strengthen the quality standards of ‘Made in India’ products without compromising on the quality of goods being made available to the Indian consumer.

This focused approach to restrict the circulation of substandard products will be a key driver to establish India as a manufacturing power synonymous with best-in-class quality products. There is a strong policy focus on the implementation of these orders, in line with the provisions of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to enforce robust quality standards to enhance consumer product safety.

The agreement recognises that countries can take necessary quality control measures to maintain the quality of their exports, protect human, animal or plant life and safeguard the environment.

QCOs are enforced by the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) by granting licences and/or certificates of conformity.

With the notification of QCO, the manufacturing, storing and sale of non-BIS certified products is prohibited. Violation of the provision of the BIS Act attracts imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence, which rises to a minimum of Rs 5 lakh for the second and subsequent offences.