New Delhi, April 4 -- The union government has temporarily suspended mandatory quality standards for Morpholine for three months to ensure adequate availability of the industrial chemical for domestic users, citing global supply chain disruptions. In an official notification issued on Thursday, the government said conformity to Indian standards under the Morpholine (Quality Control) Order, 2020 would not apply from 1 April to 1 July 2026. The order, notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, mandated that the chemical meet specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and carry certification for sale in the Indian market. The decision was taken "in view of the exigencies prevailing globally" and after taking cognisance of supply chain disruptions affecting availability, the notification said, adding that the temporary relaxation was necessary to prevent shortages and ensure continuity of supply to user industries. Under normal circumstances, a quality control order requires manufacturers and importers to comply with BIS standards to ensure product quality, safety and uniformity, with non-compliant material barred from sale in the domestic market. The temporary exemption effectively allows Morpholine that isn't compliant with BIS standards to be produced, imported and sold during the three-month window, providing relief to user industries such as rubber, pharmaceuticals and chemicals that rely on steady supplies. This is among the first instances of a QCO being relaxed amid the ongoing war in West Asia. The development is part of a broader strategy surrounding QCOs. The government has scrapped over 50 QCOs, reducing the number of active QCOs to 711 from 761 in March last year. Industry executives said supply constraints have intensified in recent months due to disruptions in global production and logistics. "The government's decision to temporarily relax the QCO will help ensure continuity for user industries such as rubber and pharmaceuticals," said Vinod Kumar, president, India SME Forum. The Morpholine (Quality Control) Order was originally issued in June 2020 and amended in October 2024. Its purpose was to put a check on imports from China, which is a key supplier of the industrial chemical along with Belgium. In FY24, India imported 1,274.84 tonnes of Morpholine worth $2.26 million from Belgium. This declined to 508 tonnes worth $0.98 million in FY25. Imports from China stood at 1,677.05 tonnes worth $3.28 million in FY24 and fell to 782.58 tonnes worth $1.43 million in FY25....