India Notifies WTO of Quality Control Order for Steel and Steel Products
On 19 April 2024, the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, after consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the Quality Control Order (QCO) on steel and steel products listed in the table below. The notification is open for comments for 60 days.
| Sr. No. | Indian Standards | Title of Standard |
| 1 | IS 18316: 2023 | Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled Steel Strips Intended For Processing Of Semi/Fully Processed Non-Grain Oriented Electrical Steel Or Fully Processed Grain Oriented Electrical Steel |
| 2 | IS 18384: 2023 | Hot-Rolled Steel Strip, Sheet and Plates for Welded Steel Pipe for Pipeline Transportation Systems |
| 3 | IS 18385: 2023 | Hot- Dip galvanized/ galvannealed Steel Sheet and strips for Automotive Applications |
| 4 | IS 18513: 2023 | Hot-Dip Zinc – Aluminium – Magnesium Alloy Coated Steel Sheets, Plates and Strips |
| 5 | IS 1469: 1993 | Ferromolybdenum – Specification |
| 6 | IS 1466: 1985 | Specification for Ferro Vanadium |
Application and Enforcement: The purpose of this QCO is to verify that the steel and steel products listed in the table above comply with the prescribed Indian Standards. The Order requires all manufacturers in India and abroad who intend to export to India steel and steel products listed in the table above to obtain a valid licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards for the use of the Standard Mark before starting regular production of such items. Furthermore, no person shall manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or display for sale any steel or steel products listed in the table which does not conform to the prescribed standards and does not bear the Bureau’s standard mark.
Objective: To improve the standard of steel and steel-related products for the benefit of the public to protect human health and safety as well as the nation’s housing, infrastructure and engineering goods.
Penalty for Contravention: Any person who contravenes the provisions of this order shall be punishable under Section 29 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016).
We acknowledge that the above information has been compiled from World Trade Organization.
