New Quality Control Orders for fibers

New Quality Control Orders for fibers

Subject :Polity

Section: National bodies

Concept :

• Quality Control Orders (QCO) have been issued for fibers – cotton, polyester and viscose– that constitute the basic raw materials for the majority of the Indian textile and clothing industry.

Quality Control Orders (QCOs)

• For ensuring the availability of quality products to consumers, Quality Control Orders (QCOs) are issued by various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 stipulating conformity of the products to Indian Standards.
• While the standards were available earlier too, these are now revised and made mandatory for a few, and yet to be finalised for others.
• International manufacturers of these fibres, who supply to India, are also mandated to get a certificate from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is the certifying authority for the QCOs.

Reason for fibres

• The Indian textile and clothing industry consumes both indigenous and imported fibres and filaments.
• The imports are for different reasons — cost competitiveness, non-availability in the domestic market, or to meet a specified demand of the overseas buyer.
• The main aim of the QCO is to control import of sub-quality and cheaper items and to ensure that customers get quality products.
• The entire supply chain, from the textile manufacturers to exporters, has so far focused on quality standards prescribed by the buyers.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national standard body of India, is responsible for the harmonious development of activities of standardisation, marking and quality certification of goods.
• The BIS was established under the BIS Act, 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardisation, marking and quality certification of goods.
• The standards are likely to include specifications on size, connectors, specification and minimum quality of the products.

The following schemes of certification are covered under BIS:

• ISI :
  • ISI Mark is a certification mark used for industrial products in India.
  • This mark assures that the product conforms to Indian Standards and is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
  • This mark is both mandatory and voluntary.
  • Mandatory ISI certification products consist of electrical appliances, medical equipment, steel products, stainless steel, chemicals, fertilizers, cement, LPG cylinder, batteries, and packed drinking water.
• BIS Hallmark :
  • The BIS Hallmark is a marking system, set up to certify the purity of gold jewelry and gold.
  • This mark was introduced for gold in the year 2000 and for silver jewelry in 2005.
  • It verifies that the jewellery conforms to the standards which are set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
  • BIS certified gold jewelry comes with a BIS stamp.
• AGMARK :
  • AGMARK is a certification mark used for agricultural products in India.
  • This mark assures that the product conforms to a set of standards approved by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection of the Government of India.
  • Currently, AGMARK standards cover quality guidelines for various products like essential oils, vegetable oils, pulses, cereals, fruits, vegetable and semi-processed products like Vermicelli.
• FPO Mark :
  • It is compulsory to have an FPO Mark on all processed fruit products sold in India.
  • The example of processed fruit products are fruit jams, packaged fruit beverages, crushes, squashes, pickles, dehydrated fruit products, and fruit extracts.
  • The FPO mark confirms that the product was manufactured in a hygienic ‘food-safe’ environment and is fit for consumption.
• Green and brown dot :
  • The green or brown dot is a common mark, printed on almost all food products.
  • The brown dot on the packed food item indicates that the food is non-vegetarian.
  • On the other hand, the green dot indicates that the food in the package is vegetarian. These symbols should be placed at a prominent place on the package.
• India Organic Certification :
  • The India Organic Certification is a label provided to farm products processed in India.
  • The certification mark guarantees that an organic food product adheres to the National Standards for Organic Products.
  • The certification is issued by testing centres accredited by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the National Program for Organic Production of the Government of India.
  • It assures that the product or the raw materials used in the product, were grown through organic farming, without using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or induced hormones.
• Ecomark :
  • This mark is issued by the BIS to those products which conform to a set of standards aimed at causing the least impact on the ecosystem.
• The Non-Polluting Vehicle Mark :
  • The Non-Polluting Vehicle mark is a mandatory certification mark required on all new motor vehicles sold in India.
  • The mark certifies that the motor vehicle conforms to the relevant version of the Bharat Stage emission standards.
  • But then the validity of this mark is only valid for six months and after that, a fresh check is needed.