The Ministry of Steel (“Ministry”) has notified the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 (“2024 Order”) prescribing standards for steel and steel products. The present Order is in supersession of existing Quality Control Order dated 22nd December, 2020. The Ministry of Steel (“Ministry”) has extended the enforcement date of the BIS standard for “IS No. 4409:1973 Specification of Ferronickel” to 23rd July, 2024.
Key Takeaways:
- Compulsory use of Standard Mark: Goods or articles specified in the Schedule of the Order will have to conform to the corresponding Indian Standard mentioned below and has to bear the Standard Mark under a licence from the Bureau as per Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
- Penalty for contravention: Any person who contravenes the provisions of this Order will be punishable with imprisonment up to 2 years and fine of Rs. 2 Lakhs which may extend up to Rs. 5 Lakh for the second contravention. For subsequent contraventions, the fine but may extend up to ten times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark, including Hallmark, or with both. If the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold cannot be determined, it shall be presumed that one year’s production was in such contravention and the annual turnover in the previous financial year shall be taken as the value of goods or articles for such contravention.
Note: These standards shall not apply to steel and steel products manufactured domestically for export (which needs to conform to other specifications required by a foreign buyer).
A copy of the Order is linked below for ease of reference.
Source: Ministry of Steel
