On Saturday, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin urged Union Minister for Textiles, Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal to instruct staff to insist on quality control orders (QCO) for importing viscose and polyester fibre only after the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) resolves all pending applications filed by the importers seeking certification to comply with QCOs.
The chief minister also demanded in a letter to Goyal that the ministry offer an exemption from the government’s QCO regulations for filament yarn and artificial fibres, including bamboo fibres not made in India. “Raw material sourcing orders are placed in accordance with fashion cycles, which are planned out over a six-month period. As a result, setting deadlines could interfere with various ongoing processes, the CM warned.
A staple made of viscose Polyester staple fibre QCO went into effect on April 3 after initially being allowed for a month’s implementation and later being extended by two months with effect from March 29. The July 3rd implementation date for polyester fully drawn yarn, partially oriented yarn, industrial yarn, and 100% spun grey and white yarn OCOs.
Numerous applications from foreign suppliers are awaiting inspection and approval by BIS; these applications won’t be cleared until BIS officials visit the applicants’ production facilities in their home countries. Even if these providers meet the QCO requirements, importing such fibres is only possible after the BIS inspectors have finished the necessary paperwork and approved the applications. Given the situation, a large number of textile fabric and apparel producers who who have ordered such fibres and whose shipment is currently in transit will probably suffer significant commercial losses,” the CM added.
The domestic producers of value-added goods would be forced to make quality compromises as a result of the delay in importing the necessary quality fibres, ultimately losing out on business. Although implementing QCOs is highly commended because it will enhance quality and safeguard the environment, Stalin said that the industry’s interest must also be protected by giving the QCOs enough time to be put into effect. According to him, MSME units cannot afford to set up the necessary testing infrastructure to receive BIS certification, which is a costly endeavour.
