PPMA demands QCO without any time relief: HPMA, AIPMA and AIPLI endorses

A meeting was held with the Punjab Plywood Manufacturers Association (PPMA) at BIS Northern Regional Office, Chandigarh on 05 February 2024 chaired by Head, Chandigarh Branch Office (CHBO), where the Association submitted its demand to implement the Quality Control Orders for Plywood and Allied Products without any extension in the date of implementation so as to protect the domestic industry against the influx of substandard Plywood and Block Boards from neighbouring countries. A Press Note of Bureau of Indian Standards Chandigarh Branch Office stated.

BIS certification scheme is basically voluntary in nature. However, for a number of products compliance to Indian Standards is made compulsory by the Central Government under various considerations viz. public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security. For such products, the Central Government directs mandatory use of Standard Mark under a Licence or Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from BIS through issuance of QCOs.

Shri Inderjit Singh Sohal , President (PPMA) informed that the Association had earlier asked for extension in the implementation of QCO but now realized that import and dumping of low quality plywood from various countries is affecting the indigenous Plywood Industry which face the threat of shutting down due to severe price competition in the market. Any delay in implementation of QCO will also lead to jeopardizing the livelihoods of the farmers who are into cultivation for indigenous industry and workers employed in the Plywood industries. Implementation of QCO will also be instrumental in ensuring quality compliant products for the consumers. Therefore, urgent implementation of QCO is very critical.   

Shri Deepak Aggarwal, Head (CHBO), stated that after the date of commencement of the QCO, no person shall manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or exhibit for sale any product(s) covered under the QCO without a Standard Mark except under a valid Licence or CoC from BIS.

Any person who contravenes the provisions of the Order shall be punishable under the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016 with imprisonment for a term which may extend upto two years or with finenot less than two lakh rupees(for first contravention and five lakh rupees for subsequent contraventions) or with both.

The information on QCOs issued by the Central Government can be obtained from BIS website under the following link:

Conformity Assessment -> Product Certification ->Products under Compulsory Certification.

Significantly, endorsing PPMAs stand, HPMA, AIPMA and AIPLI has requested Piyush Goyal, the minister of commerce and Industry, to implement the QCO’s on its prescribed date, without any extension.