Quality Control Order 2024 for Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages

Introduction to the Quality Control Order 2024 for Cookware, Utensils, & Cans

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, definitely plays a critical role in ensuring product quality, safety, as well as consumer protection in India. Cookware, utensils, and food and beverage cans are widely used consumer products that come in direct contact with food. In order to strengthen quality assurance and replace the earlier regulatory framework, the government has notified the Cookware and Utensils (Quality Control) Order, 2023, and introduced a revised order covering a broader range of food-contact products.

Key Changes You Need to Know

As per this Quality Control Order, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued the Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages (Quality Control) Order, 2024 through a notification dated 14 March 2024.

Key provisions of the order include:

• Mandatory conformity of Cookware, Utensils and Cans for foods and beverages to the relevant Indian Standards that have been notified by BIS.
• Compulsory use of the Standard Mark (ISI Mark) under a BIS license as per Scheme-I of Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 has been mandated.
• The Order covers products such as stainless steel utensils, wrought aluminium utensils, stainless steel sinks, sanitary food cans, and aluminium beverage cans.
• The goods that are manufactured domestically only for export purposes, are exempted from this Order.
• BIS is definitely the sole certifying and enforcement authority.
• Non-compliance to the BIS Regulations will certainly attract penalties under the BIS Act, 2016.

What is the Date of Implementation?

• General Enterprises: 01 September 2024
• Small Enterprises: 01 December 2024
• Micro Enterprises: 01 March 2025

Note: Certain micro enterprises registered on the Udyam portal, meeting specified investment as well as turnover thresholds, are exempt as per the conditions mentioned in the order.

Now, What to Do?

Businesses dealing in Cookware, Utensils, and Cans for food and beverages should immediately assess the applicability of their products under the QCO, identify the relevant Indian Standards, and initiate BIS certification well in advance of the enforcement date. Manufacturers must also review enterprise classification in order to track the correct compliance timeline.

Brand Liaison provides end-to-end support for BIS certification, including simplified documentation, complete consultancy, standard identification, testing coordination, license application, as well as complete ongoing compliance advisory to ensure smooth adherence to the Quality Control Order, 2024.