Surat Textile Associations Urge Removal of QCO orders for BIS Certification on Polyester Yarn

Surat : The Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI) and several other textile associations in Surat have raised their voice against the impending implementation of Quality Control Orders (QCO) for Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification on various Polyester Yarn.

The industry bodies have called for the removal of these orders, which are scheduled to take effect on July 3, 2023. In a letter addressed to Rachna Shah, the Textile Secretary of the Government of India, and J K Gupta, Head Specifications (Textiles) at BIS, FIASWI has highlighted the need to rectify impractical provisions in the current guidelines.

According to FIASWI, polyester yarn is primarily an industrial raw material, and buyers and customers are already well-informed about their specific requirements for the quality of yarn needed to manufacture fabric. The BIS certification scheme, which is voluntary in nature, should not be subjected to mandatory certification guidelines. FIASWI further argues that the non-availability of high-quality yarn from the international market will potentially give rise to unfair trade practices among domestic yarn manufacturers.

It has been reported that numerous overseas manufacturers have submitted applications for BIS certification since December 2021. However, as of now, there has been no progress from BIS authorities in visiting their plants for inspection. This delay in the certification process has created a significant gap between the demand and supply of Polyester Fully Drawn Yarn (FDY).

In light of these concerns, Bharat Gandhi, Chairman of FIASWI, has proposed the establishment of a dedicated email ID to register complaints regarding the supply of yarn that does not comply with BIS standards. He has also called for provisions to compensate the losses incurred by user industries due to the provision of inferior quality yarn.

The implementation of QCO orders will restrict the import of Specialty Polyester Yarns that are not manufactured in India but are essential for various applications. Raw material items like ITY/BSY yarns, used in the production of Burak Fabrics, Mechanical Stretch Yarns employed in the manufacturing of stretch fabrics, CEY Yarns utilized in the production of stretch fabrics, and Polyester Low Melt Yarn commonly used in shoes’ upper parts will no longer be permitted for importation.

International suppliers of these specialized yarns in India have expressed their interest in obtaining BIS certification. However, the lack of action from the BIS Department in inspecting such factories has impeded their certification process.

“The demand to remove the QCO orders and address the concerns raised by FIASWI and other textile associations reflects the need for a balanced approach to ensure the availability of high-quality raw materials while maintaining fair trade practices in the domestic market” said industry experts.