Industry may get to breathe easy over quality rules

India's quality rules, which riled local manufacturers and raised concerns of shortages, may be about to see some easing, two people aware of the development said.

- Dhirendra Kumar

The Centre may provide more time for local manufacturers to level up and exempt some sections from quality control orders (QCOs) by introducing an enabling provision, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity.

The plan is to exempt small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) with annual sales below ₹2 crore from the ambit of QCOs, one of the two people cited above said. Under the quality rules aimed to curb imports of sub-standard goods and raise the quality of Indian products, manufacturers and importers of an array of items must first obtain certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).