New Delhi, Nov. 22 -- The Ministry of Steel has suspended the enforcement of key provisions under the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, following a review of recommendations submitted by the High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms (HLC-NFRR).

The decision reflects the Ministry's assessment of the broader implications of strict QCO implementation on pricing, domestic availability and sectoral competitiveness.

In its review, the Ministry considered the potential impact of mandatory quality standards on downstream industries, particularly MSMEs and sectors reliant on specific steel grades that continue to be imported.

At the same time, the examination accounted for concerns related to preventing unfa...