New Delhi, March 13 -- The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has called on the government to withdraw the mandatory quality control norms on steel fasteners, warning that their implementation will disrupt industrial supply chains and create regulatory challenges.

The Quality Control Order (QCO), issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in September 2024, mandates Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for both domestic and foreign manufacturers. However, GTRI noted that BIS has yet to approve any manufacturer under the scheme, effectively halting importsfrom March 20.

"This will create supply chain bottlenecks, as thousands of small manufacturers struggle to obtain BIS certification, le...