Q. What is the primary purpose of the Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the government?
Answer:
Contain Sub-standard Imports
Notes: The government's recent decision to issue 65 Quality Control Orders (QCOs), as announced by the Joint Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), is primarily aimed at containing the import of sub-standard goods into India. These QCOs cover over 500 products and are part of a broader strategy to ensure product safety for consumers and to boost domestic manufacturing. Under these orders, products must bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark to be produced, sold, traded, imported, or stocked in India. This initiative aligns with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and serves to curb the influx of inferior quality imports, thereby protecting consumer interests and promoting fair trade practices. The stringent penalties for violations of these orders further underscore their importance in maintaining quality standards in the market.