Quality Control Amendment Order 2024 for Polyethylene Material for Moulding and Extrusion

Introduction to the BIS QCO on Polyethylene Material for Moulding and Extrusion

Before the 2024 amendment, the Polyethylene Material for Moulding and Extrusion (Quality Control) Order, 2022 mandated BIS certification for all polyethylene materials used for moulding and extrusion, required compliance with the applicable Indian Standards, applied uniformly to all grades without exemptions, and was enforceable under the BIS Act, 2016, with penalties for violations.

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, which is part of the Ministry of Chemicals and fertilizers has amended the Polyethylene Material for Moulding and Extrusion (Quality Control) Order, 2022. This amendment has been made known as part of the powers in the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, in consultation with BIS, in the interest of the people. The amendment mainly explains the coverage of products that would not be subject to compulsory BIS certification by the said Order.

Products that are covered under the QCO

Quality Control Order governs polyethylene materials, which are applicable in moulding and extrusion. But with the amendment of 2024, the government has given a certain category of polyethylene materials where the applicability of the Order does not apply.

The following products are excluded from mandatory BIS certification under this amendment:

• Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) used for extrusion coating
• LDPE film grades (blown or cast) including pharma grades
• Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) butene grades
• LLDPE hexene or octene grades
• Metallocene polyethylene grades
• Base resins used for power cable jacketing and related applications
• Compounds used for cable jacketing, sheathing, PE-80 and PE-100 (black or pigmented), and reinforcement fillers

Key Provisions of Polyethylene Material for Moulding and Extrusion (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2024.

• Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016, has been used to issue the amendment.
• It replaces sub- paragraph (3) in paragraph 1 of the 2022 Order.
• Specific classes of polyethylene materials are now clearly exempted from the scope of mandatory BIS certification.
• Any other polyethylene used for moulding and extrusion, which are not listed on the exemption, are still subject to the QCO.

What does this Notification mean to Businesses?

This amendment provides a lot of clarity to manufacturers and importers of polyethylene materials. Companies that produce or import exempted grades do not need any more BIS certification for the individual products. Nevertheless, the products that could not be categorized under the exempted groups still had to be in accordance with the BIS certification standards. Manufacturers and importers must carefully evaluate their product grades to determine whether BIS licensing is mandatory.

Impact of this order on the industry

• Provides regulatory clarity on exempted polyethylene grades
• Reduces unnecessary compliance burden for specific industrial applications
• Helps manufacturers focus certification efforts on applicable products
• Encourages smoother trade and compliance planning

What is the date of Implementation?

The amendment order became effective on the date of publication in the Official Gazette, i.e., 4 January 2024. Under this notification, there is no gradual implementation plan for general, small, and micro enterprises.

Now, What to Do?

When this amendment was issued, companies that work with polyethylene materials must go through their compliance requirements under the Quality Control Order. 

Businesses sharing a common goal should:

• Determine the exempted products of theirs.
• Apply for BIS certification immediately if the product is still covered
• Make sure that the manufacturing process and quality systems are in line with the Indian Standards.
• Keep adequate records and product validation preparedness.

The importers are required to check that the foreign manufacturers have valid BIS licenses on covered products. Brand Liaison offers professional services on BIS certification, product testing organization, regulatory interpretation, and compliance consulting. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing time and cost-effective certification services to manufacturers and importers.