Govt 6 Months Extension to Plastics Industry for BIS Quality Norms Implementation

In a major relief to the plastics industry in India, the government has granted six months extension for the mandatory implementation of BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) quality norms on raw materials. The Industry, however, had demanded an extension of a year. In separate notifications issued for each product, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, said, “After consulting the Bureau of Indian Standards, we are of the opinion that it is necessary to do so (make quality standard applicable after 180 days).” The extension has been granted for 100 per cent polyester spun grey and white yarn (PSY), polyethylene material for moulding extrusion, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, linear alkyl benzene, polyester continuous filament fully drawn yarn, polyester industrial yarn, synthetic micro fibre for use in cement based matrix, polyester partially oriented yarn and polyester staple fibre. In April this year, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals had issued a notification granting six months timeline to the industry for adhering to the BIS quality norms. But, this timeline was insufficient for the domestic as well as international plastics raw materials value chain to get BIS registration and follow quality guidelines. “It is a very big relief for the plastics industry. This is the beginning of an end of the coronavirus (Covid) pandemic. Hence, the extension will grant raw material producers some time. We had brought to the notice of the Department and also to the BIS about the possible implication of the BIS quality norms on raw materials. We are exporting raw materials and importing finished products. Through this, the value addition is being done in other countries and eventually, the employment is being generated in the country of value addition. Hence, the quality norms are needed for finished products and not for raw materials. In India, there are hardly 14-15 raw materials producers but, number of plastics processors stands at over 40,000 in India. Hence, the BIS quality implementation on finished products would protect interest of over 40,000 plastics processing units and generate employment locally, as has been the philosophy of the Chinese government,” said Deepak Lawale, Secretary General, Organization of the Plastics Processors of India (OPPI), the apex industry body, to Polymerupdate. Since the mandatory quality implementation date on plastics raw material was fixed earlier as October 15, 2021, hardly a few days left, certain polymers were trading at very high premiums in the physical market, amid expectations of ‘no action’ from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. “We will write to the government once again that the BIS quality norms on raw materials are not needed. Instead of raw materials, the government should impose BIS quality norms on the finished products,” said Lawale. Echoing similar sentiments, Deepak Ballani, Executive Director of All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) said, “This order will avert major raw material crisis in the Indian market largely saving thousands of MSME’s (micro, small and medium enterprises) from further economic hardships. We would continue to engage with the government on the need to remove requirement of mandatory BIS standards on raw materials.”