BIS QCO FOR THE ASBESTOS OR FIBRE CEMENT BASED PRODUCTS (FIBRE CEMENT FLAT SHEETS)

OVERVIEW

8^th OCTOBER 2023

The Indian Government, particularly the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, has introduced a new set of rules known as the Asbestos or Fibre Cement based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2023. This rule is made possible by the authority given in section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, allowing the Central Government to create regulations for the well-being of the public.

The key points of this order are simple. Firstly, it says that certain products, listed in a table, must follow specific Indian Standards mentioned in the same table. Additionally, these products need to have a special mark issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards, and this mark can be obtained through a license, following the rules in the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

According to the BIS QCO for the asbestos or fibre cement based products (fibre cement flat sheets this rule doesn't apply to products made in India if they are intended for export. Also, small enterprises, defined under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, get a nine-month grace period from the date the rule is announced. Micro enterprises have an even longer grace period of twelve months.

As mentioned in the BIS QCO for the asbestos or fibre cement based products (fibre cement flat sheets if someone breaks these rules, they can face punishment under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. This rule requires that these products must follow the specific guidelines outlined in the Indian Standard 14862:2000, particularly concerning Fibre Cement Flat Sheets.

In short, the Asbestos or Fibre Cement based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2023, is a set of rules to make sure that certain products meet specific standards, and the Bureau of Indian Standards is responsible for overseeing and enforcing these rules.

TABLE

QCO - Quality Control Order