New Delhi, July 10 -- The Union Ministry of Steel has delayed the implementation of its June 13 Quality Control Order (QCO) on finished steel imports by four months, following concerns from smaller importers.

The move aims to prevent disruption to shipments that were contracted or dispatched before the regulation was announced.

The order required all imported finished steel products to be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), as part of the government's broader effort to enforce stricter quality checks.

However, during a consultation with stakeholders on July 7, the ministry agreed to temporarily relax this mandate.

The revised notification, which built upon an earlier QCO issued in August 2024, also extended BIS certific...