Relief for MSMEs on Asbestos Compliance

By Doraj Mandal --
Monday, 27 May, 2024

In a bid to improve the standards of fiber cement based products, the government has granted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) more time to comply with the Asbestos or Fibre Cement-based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

Moving forward under the medium enterprises development act 2006, Micro units will get 12 months from the notification date to meet the Quality Control Order (QCO) requirements, while it will be 9 months for smaller units. However, this exemption also applies to goods manufactured domestically for export purposes.

To maintain these quality standards, the government has entrusted the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to certify and enforce compliance, stating violations of the QCO will be subject to penalties under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act of 2016.

The government is seeking to develop a quality-focused ecosystem, which will enhance product safety and support economic growth. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is rapidly implementing QCOs for various critical consumer products, including electrical accessories, laboratory glassware, hinges, copper products, and door fittings. These measures aim to improve the quality of "Made in India" products and position India as a leader in high-quality manufacturing.

While the standards issued by the BIS for any product or process are for voluntary compliance, those notified by the government through issuance of Technical Regulations primarily through QCOs under Scheme-I and Compulsory Registration Order under Scheme-II are mandatory in nature.

Relief for MSMEs on Asbestos Compliance. In a bid to improve the standards of fiber cement based products, the government has granted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) more time to comply with the Asbestos or Fibre Cement-based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

Moving forward under the medium enterprises development act 2006, Micro units will get 12 months from the notification date to meet the Quality Control Order (QCO) requirements, while it will be 9 months for smaller units. However, this exemption also applies to goods manufactured domestically for export purposes.

To maintain these quality standards, the government has entrusted the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to certify and enforce compliance, stating violations of the QCO will be subject to penalties under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act of 2016.

The government is seeking to develop a quality-focused ecosystem, which will enhance product safety and support economic growth. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is rapidly implementing QCOs for various critical consumer products, including electrical accessories, laboratory glassware, hinges, copper products, and door fittings. These measures aim to improve the quality of "Made in India" products and position India as a leader in high-quality manufacturing.

While the standards issued by the BIS for any product or process are for voluntary compliance, those notified by the government through issuance of Technical Regulations primarily through QCOs under Scheme-I and Compulsory Registration Order under Scheme-II are mandatory in nature.