The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued the Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023. This Order was notified on 14th July, 2023.
The order mandates the use of Standard Marks on specified goods or articles and conforms to the corresponding Indian Standards.
According to the Order, specified goods or articles shall comply with the Indian Standards and shall bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
It is important to note that the provisions of this Order do not apply to goods or articles manufactured domestically for export purposes. Additionally, domestic goods or articles manufactured by enterprises registered under the “Udyam portal” of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), meeting specific financial criteria, are exempted from the order’s requirements.
BIS shall be the certifying and enforcing authority for the specified goods or articles ensuring adherence to the prescribed standards.
Moreover, any person found violating the Order shall be liable for punishment under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
The implementation of this Quality Control Order will help enhance the overall quality, safety, and reliability of welding rods and electrodes available in the Indian market. It is a significant step towards ensuring that consumers receive products that meet the required standards and conform to the best practices in the industry.
The Order will come into force within six months from the date of its publication, as per the notification. However, for Small Enterprises and Micro Enterprises, as defined under The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, the Order will be enforced after nine months and twelve months, respectively, from the date of publication of this notification.
