Govt extends implementation of steel quality order by 2 months

The government on Tuesday extended by another two months the date for implementation of the Stainless Steel Products (Quality Control) Order.

The earlier deadline expired on Tuesday and the present extension was necessitated as licensing process by BIS would take some more time, the Steel Ministry said in a statement.

The order stipulates prohibition on manufacture, import, storage, sale and distribution without the Standard Mark of BIS and obligation of certification.

Steel Minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh has called for creating a comprehensive quality regime in the steel sector, the statement said.

This is essential for Indian steel products to gain acceptability and recognition at international level, he said and added that the way forward is to bring more and more products under the ambit of quality control order for a holistic coverage.

India needs to find new markets for its steel products for better capacity utilisation and quality is a pre-requisite for export-orientation.

This is essential because steel products form the backbone of infrastructure, construction, household utilities, engineering goods and other sectors. Standardisation through quality control would be beneficial for the health of mass consumers who use stainless steel utensils.

Similarly strength, durability and longevity of housing and other constructions depend on the quality of steel used.

Steel merchants’ plea

Earlier, the Metal and Stainless Steel Merchants’ Association, an apex body of stainless steel producers, importers and stockists, had urged the Government to postpone the implementation of the quality control order by one year as most of the stainless steel producers are yet to get Bureau of Indian Standard registration.

In a notification on June 10, the Ministry of Steel said the quality control order will come into force in three months. However, as of today, only one international and four domestic manufacturers, including two Jindal steel plants, have received BIS certification while rest of the industry is waiting for months to get BIS certification due to the cumbersome process, said Manoj Kunango, Chairman, MASSMA.

With non-receipt of BIS registration most of the stainless steel producers have stopped production and this has resulted in huge shortage of key raw material for many industries in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chennai, said Jitendra Shah, President, MASSMA.