In just three years, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued 84 Quality Control Orders (QCOs)—nearly 45% of the total 187 QCOs enforced so far. These latest orders alone cover 343 products, marking a sharp increase in regulatory activity.
QCOs are legal directives under the BIS Act that make it mandatory for both domestic and imported goods to meet prescribed quality standards. Products cannot be sold in the market without BIS certification once such an order is in effect.
MSMEs Push Back Against QCOs
While the government says QCOs are meant to improve quality and safety, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) argue that these regulations have added significant costs.
Over the past two years, MSMEs have complained that:
QCOs act as non-tariff barriers, restricting the availability of raw materials.
Input costs have risen sharply, since certain imports are blocked and businesses are forced to buy from larger companies at higher rates.
Even NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery recently criticized the trend, calling QCOs “malign interventions” that limit access to essential inputs for smaller firms.
Who Issues the Most QCOs?
Government data shows that multiple ministries recommend QCOs, but some departments lead the way:
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): 86 QCOs covering 362 products.
Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals: 69 QCOs covering 74 products.
Ministry of Textiles: 10 QCOs covering 76 products.
The Bigger Picture
While stricter quality controls are seen as a step towards safeguarding consumers and promoting “Make in India,” the growing number of QCOs has sparked a debate on balancing product quality with ease of doing business.
For MSMEs, which are the backbone of India’s economy, the concern remains whether these regulations will boost competitiveness in the long run or burden smaller players with unsustainable compliance costs.