BIS QCO FOR THE ASBESTOS OR FIBRE CEMENT BASED PRODUCTS (CORRUGATED AND SEMI - CORRUGATED ASBESTOS CEMENT SHEETS)

OVERVIEW

8^th OCTOBER 2023

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, has issued an Order in New Delhi, under the authority of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. This Order, known as the Asbestos or Fibre Cement based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2023, will take effect six months from its publication in the Official Gazette.

According to the Order, goods or articles specified in the Table must adhere to the corresponding Indian Standard mentioned in the same Table. These products should display the Standard Mark, obtained through a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards, following Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

According to BIS QCO for the asbestos or fibre cement based products (corrugated and semi - corrugated asbestos cement sheets there are exceptions outlined in the Order. Goods or articles produced domestically for export purposes are not subject to the provisions of this Order. Additionally, small enterprises, as per the definition in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, will be exempt for the first nine months from the date of the notification. Similarly, micro-enterprises will have a grace period of twelve months from the date of the notification.

The Bureau of Indian Standards is designated as the authority responsible for certifying and enforcing compliance with the Order. Any contravention of the provisions outlined in this Order can lead to penalties under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.

In a nutshell BIS QCO for asbestos or fibre cement-based products (corrugated and semi-corrugated asbestos cement sheets aim to regulate the quality control of Asbestos or Fibre Cement Products in the interest of public safety and standardization. It sets specific requirements for adherence to Indian Standards, ensuring that products in this category meet the necessary quality benchmarks and bear the Standard Mark for consumer assurance.                                                                

TABLE

QCO - Quality Control Order