The Government of India has also withdrawn 14 mandatory BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) Quality Control Orders (QCOs) of key chemical and polymer products in a heart-rending move that has not been shaken off by manufacturers, importers and downstream industries across the nation.
This was to become effective on 12 November 2025 with S.O. 5129(E) notifying of the decision to S.O. 5142(E). This will be a significant change in the Indian regulatory philosophy, a near redirection that will enable the friendliness of regulation, improve access to raw materials, and the friendliness of conducting business in India.
In Induce India, the partners include our association with manufacturers, exporters and importers in the steel and chemical industry, polymer and allied industries. The result of this development is colossal to the ecosystem that we are supporting. This blog breaks down the news in plain, simple language and breaks it down for you.
Why had the Government been supporting its BIS Requirements?
To be familiar with the impact, it is wise to take into account its purpose first. Three goals of the government are significant in the motivations behind the decision:
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Reducing Compliance Burden
Those recalls of QCOs were numerous, and some of the compulsory types of chemicals and polymers of raw materials were opened within various industries like plastics, textiles, automobile, electronics and packaging.
The certification process was implemented for the businesses, especially MSMEs, as follows:
- Costly product testing
- Long approval timelines
- Dependence of other partners during implementation of BIS.
- Supply chain disturbances.
The latter makes the sourcing of materials in companies less bureaucratic since the process involves the requirements as a prerequisite for removal.
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Improving the Ease of Doing Business
India has been tirelessly trying to better its regulatory atmosphere, and deregulation of non-critical industrial inputs is a journey it is taking. The withdrawal will streamline the processes related to domestic producers and importers, as it will align India with the global trade practices.
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Downstream Industry Customer Support
Many industries are based on chemicals and polymers. When raw material certification is made tedious, there will be an impact on the production cycles and expenses.
The government intends to eliminate obligatory BIS norms to:
- Minimise the shortage of raw materials.
- Minimise production delays
- Introduction of more price stability.
- Encourage the development of manufacturing.
This helps plastics, packaging, textile manufacturing, and petrochemical-based industries most especially.
What Products Passed out of the mandatory BIS Certification?
The 14 recalled products have a combination of chemical intermediates, polymers, fibres, as well as plastics. Some examples include:
- Terephthalic Acid (PTA)
- Ethylene Glycol (EG)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyethene (PE)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polyester fibres and yarns
These are one of the most popular industrial inputs in the Indian chemical, plastic, textile and packaging industries. This relocation will indicate that these materials are not perceived through the safety perspective as high-risk and can be more effectively controlled by voluntary certification and quality checks by buyers.
How Does This Impact Indian Businesses?
Let’s break it down by stakeholder type:
To Manufacturers (Especially MSMEs)
This is a major relief. The mandatory BIS certification usually resulted in a bottleneck, more so when the imported raw material would be held at the dock until approvals were made or laboratory delays occurred.
Now manufacturers can:
- Find source materials faster.
- Reduce input costs
- Continue constant production processes.
- Operate more efficiently in the local and foreign markets.
The largest beneficiaries include industries like plastics, textiles, packaging and automotive parts.
On Importers and Foreign Suppliers
The exit paves the way to easy and quick market entry. In the past, foreign manufacturers were required to seek BIS certification, conduct a factory audit, and go through time-consuming and costly testing procedures.
With these norms removed:
- Barriers to importation decreased to a great extent.
- It is possible to include more global suppliers.
- The Indian buyers have access to more raw materials.
This would enhance flexibility and the price of the supply chain.
For Export-Oriented Companies
Low input cost translates to better competitiveness in the global competitive market. Exporters will be able to devise a more efficient production schedule when raw materials can be purchased at a better price and with fewer delays.
For the Market as a Whole
The value chain will probably see the cost improvements trickle down. Over time, this could mean:
- Cheaper plastic goods
- Economical manufacturing of textiles.
- Lower consumer goods pricing.
- Better international competitiveness for Indian manufacturing.
Do You Have any Concerns about removing BIS Certification?
Each change of policy has its positive and negative sides as well as obligations.
Although the elimination of QCOs eases regulatory friction, it makes businesses more accountable.
The following are some of the considerations that can be made:
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Quality Assurance turns into a responsibility of the company
In the absence of mandatory inspection of BIS, manufacturers and importers will be forced to establish internal controls over quality. This is of particular significance for exporters who need to comply with the international quality standards.
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Possibility of unstable Quality of Material.
No strict standards can create a narrow possibility of a source of low-grade material getting into the supply chain. Players in the industry will be required to be keen to maintain product consistency.
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Requirement of Intense Buyer-Supplier Contracts.
Companies need to establish definite quality specifications for the suppliers, more so when procuring important raw materials.
The Implication of this Move to the Growth Story of India
This withdrawal goes beyond a change in regulations; it is indicative of the future economic direction of India.
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Promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat
The government is easing the restrictions to promote local production and streamline imports of those industries that highly depend on international raw materials.
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Conformance to Global Standards
Most of the nations control chemical intermediates using voluntary or industry-based regulations. The move by India brings the trade practices in the country closer to the global standards.
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Increasing Competitiveness in the Industry
Reduced cost of compliance and availability of materials in time will mean a robust and competitive industry.
Innovating and Developing.
Manufacturers no longer limited by the certification delays can take into account:
- New product lines
- Faster production cycles
- Better R&D investments
The Perspective of Induce India on What Businesses are supposed to do?
The withdrawal is a good move, but at least there must be a way out of the new environment so that one can walk around without messing things up. We would recommend the following at Induce India:
- Empower Internal Quality Systems: This is necessary even though there are no mandatory BIS norms, at least to the export industry.
- Revisit Your Supplier List: It is a golden opportunity to explore an alternative to competition, as the global suppliers have few limitations.
- Update Compliance Strategies: Such 14 products are no longer to be BIS certified, but many products are compulsory. In order not to expose themselves to the risk of disobedience, companies should maintain contact.
At Induce India, we constantly track the changes in regulations and help the companies to sail through the certification process, QCO, importation paperwork work and the governmental notification.
Conclusion
The move of the government to withdraw the mandatory BIS certification on 14 chemical and polymer products is historic, which has made things easier in the operations of the manufacturers, eased the level of doing business and enhanced the industrial ecosystem in India. Although the businesses will have to revise their quality control methods, the final advantages, such as lower prices, streamlined imports, shorter production times, and a higher level of competitiveness, far exceed the obstacles. At Induce India, this is a good change which is giving industries the power to expand with more flexibility and confidence.
