OTR Order on Weaving, Embroidery Machines Extended to 2026

The Government of India has extended the implementation deadline for the mandatory OTR (Omnibus Technical Regulation) order on textile weaving and embroidery machinery by one year.

The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) has welcomed this move, stating that it will enable Indian textile machinery manufacturers to produce quality machinery on par with imported high-speed weaving and embroidery machines. SGCCI believes this decision will significantly support the "Make in India" initiative.

Previously, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, on August 28, 2024, had announced the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order 2024, which mandated QCO compliance for textile weaving and embroidery machines, including their assemblies and sub-assemblies. The regulation was originally scheduled to come into force from August 28, 2025. However, the Central Government has now postponed its enforcement until September 1, 2026.

SGCCI President Nikhil Madrasi highlighted that SGCCI and other local industrial associations had appealed to the government for the exclusion of QCO from weaving and embroidery machinery. He emphasized that Surat is India’s leading MMF (man-made fibre) textile hub, with around 4,000 high-speed weaving machines and a significant number of embroidery machines being imported annually, as many of these are not yet manufactured domestically.

Given that MMF is currently the largest market segment, and much of the investment in this area is directed toward waterjet, airjet, and rapier weaving machines, the extension was proposed to allow Indian manufacturers time to develop equivalent machinery.