New Delhi, April 17 -- India's leading metal trade associations have filed a legal petition against the central government's Quality Control Order (QCO) on copper cathodes, citing significant supply disruptions.

The Bombay Metal Exchange and the Bombay Non-ferrous Metals Association submitted the petition to the Bombay High Court on March 18, arguing that the QCO, implemented on December 1, 2024, has led to "acute shortages" in copper supply, adversely affecting downstream industries.

The QCO mandates that all copper cathode imports must be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).However, delays in BIS certification for major foreign suppliers, particularly from Japan, have resulted in a sharp decline in imports during Decembe...