The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers had issued Quality Control Orders mandating BIS certification for import and also for domestic sale of polyester fully drawn yarn, polyester partially oriented yarn, polyester industrial yarn, 100% polyester spun yarn and polyester staple fibre. Though BIS standards are already available for around 1500 textiles and clothing products, it was only optional for any manufacturer and buyer to adopt the standards and mostly these standards were used only as a guideline. The Government has taken a decision to issue Quality Control Order with the mandate of BIS certification for various textile products to protect the interest of consumers, ensure production of higher quality products and also prevent import of sub-standard MMF raw materials that affect the competitiveness of indigenous MMF fibre and filament yarn manufacturers.
The industry across the value chain has difficulties in obtaining BIS certificate within the prescribed time. Predominantly, the MSME nature of spinning mills manufacturing 100% Polyester Staple Fibre Yarn find it difficult to establish the prescribed testing equipment within the factory as per the guidelines of the BIS. The Hon’ble Minister of Textiles has advised the BIS to establish testing laboratories in all the major clusters and also give accreditation for the various private/ government/ quasi-government testing laboratories across the country to enable the MSME textile units to test the products and comply with the guidelines of BIS. There are several niche raw materials that are not manufactured in the country for which the users find it difficult to convince the suppliers to obtain the BIS certification owing to limited volume. These raw materials are essential to meet the demands of the buyers in the international market and also in the domestic market. Therefore, the industry has been requesting the Government to give time extension for the implementation of QCO. Consequently, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers have extended time for four QCOs viz., polyester fully drawn yarn, polyester partially oriented yarn, polyester industrial yarn and 100% polyester spun yarn till 2nd July 2023.
In a Press Release issued here today, Mr.Ravi Sam, Chairman, The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) has thanked the Hon’be Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers , Dr. Mansukh L. Mandaviya and Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal for considering the genuine plea of the industry and giving time extension for the aforesaid products. Mr.Ravi Sam has appealed to the suppliers of these raw materials and yarn manufacturers to obtain the BIS certification on a fast track so that appeal for further extension could be avoided. He has also requested the BIS to expedite the process of certification on a fast track to avoid any disruption in the manufacture, cancellation of export orders and its consequential impact. Mr.Ravi Sam has also appealed to the Hon’ble Minister of Textiles to give a similar time extension for Viscose Staple Fibre as BIS is yet to provide BIS certification for the suppliers from over 20 countries. He added that certain raw materials are manufactured only in certain countries like China, Egypt, Austria, etc. For example Bamboo fibre is manufactured only in China which is predominantly used for the production of medical textiles including baby wear, mother wear, socks, intimate garments for diabetic patients and India has established itself both in the international and domestic markets by manufacturing import substitution.
SIMA Chairman has requested the Government to give separate HSN Codes for all the MMF fibres and filament yarns that are not manufactured in the country and thereby enable exempting such goods from the mandatory BIS certification to enable Ease of Doing Business.
