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Ambarish Mukherjee

New Delhi, Aug. 27 The Government is likely to go slow on the implementation of the Steel Products Quality Control Order 2007 issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

Initially, the order would be made applicable only for manufacturers and consumers in the organised sector while the unorganised sector operating small steel making units could be kept out of the purview of the order to give them time to adjust to the new regime.

The order makes it mandatory that all steel products and items made of steel must be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It also authorises the respective district administration to ensure compliance.

The order further stipulates that in case of non-compliance, such steel products would be treated as scrap steel.

Sources said that the standards for many steel items are yet to be finalised by the BIS which is also a reason for the Government to go slow on the issue.

Various associations of secondary steel producers have made presentations against the order stating that there are over 1,000 steel mills employing more than a lakh people and these small units would run out of job if the order is implemented.

The Steel Secretary, Mr P K Rastogi, told Business Line that “though it is a matter with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the Government would like to go in a phased manner.”

“Our Ministry can only recommend on this issue. Initially, it may be that only the manufacturers and consumers in the organised sector who may be asked to comply with the new quality standards,” he said.

“But the ultimate objective is to make all steel items in the country meet the required quality standards,” Mr Rastogi said.

The Steel Quality Control Order 2007 was issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs on November 12, 2007 and was scheduled to be operative from June 12, 2008.

Keeping in mind the difficulties it might cause to the small steel manufacturers the date of implementation has been extended from time to time, officials said.

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