India to Enforce Mandatory BIS Standards for Chemicals and Petrochemicals

Posted by Written by Archana Rao Reading Time: 3 minutes

India will implement mandatory BIS standards for chemicals and petrochemicals, applicable on both domestically manufactured and imported products.

India is set to implement mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for chemicals and petrochemical products, with the new regulation scheduled to take effect in October 2024. This announcement was made by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers on July 26, 2024.

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Minister of State (MoS) for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, emphasized that both imported and domestically produced chemicals and petrochemicals will now adhere to stringent quality standards. This move aims to prevent the use of hazardous and substandard products.

The DCPC began the process of making BIS standards mandatory for certain chemicals in December 2023. The BIS norms will apply to both domestic manufacturers and international suppliers.

Recent Quality Control Orders and amendments

A gazette notification issued on March 7, 2024, by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers extended the enforcement date for Quality Control Orders (QCOs) concerning six chemicals: lauric acid, acid oil, palm fatty acids, rice bran fatty acids, coconut fatty acids, and hydrogenated rice bran fatty acids. These QCOs will now come into effect on October 24, 2024.

For petrochemical products, a gazette notification on June 4, 2024, introduced a quality control amendment affecting textiles—specifically, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) woven sacks for packaging fertilizers and textiles, as well as polypropylene (PP) woven, laminated, and block bottom valve sacks for 50 kg cement packaging. Additionally, a July 2024 gazette notification amended the quality control standards for polyester continuous filament fully drawn yarn.

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The DCPC clarified that these quality standards, mandated under Section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, are being enforced to safeguard health, ensure environmental safety, prevent unfair trade practices, and enhance national security.

Currently, approximately 72 QCOs have been notified in India, with 41 implemented and enforcement of the remaining 31 extended periodically.

Regulation of insecticides and hazardous chemicals

Insecticides in India are regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare under the Insecticides Act, 1968, to mitigate risks to humans and animals. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change has established criteria for hazardous chemicals under the Manufacture, Storage, and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989, and supports these regulations through the Chemical Accident Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Response Rules, 1996.

For fertilizers, the central government ensures quality through the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, which regulates supply, distribution, and quality. Violations of this order lead to penal and administrative actions.

Export trends of chemicals and petrochemicals

Export quantities for chemicals, petrochemicals, and fertilizers have shown fluctuations over the past five years. Major chemical exports rose from 1,698,384 MT in FY 2019-20 to 2,642,179 MT in FY 2023-24, peaking at 4,626,765 MT in FY 2022-23.

Conversely, petrochemical exports decreased from 8,798,230 MT in FY 2019-20 to 3,850,778 MT in FY 2023-24, despite reaching a high of 9,334,559 MT in FY 2022-23. Fertilizer exports also declined from 303,604 MT in FY 2019-20 to 154,682 MT in FY 2021-22, though they increased to 186,148 MT in FY 2022-23 and 298,762 MT in FY 2023-24.

What’s next

Earlier in July 2024, India’s Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, J.P. Nadda, announced that the central government plans to introduce essential policy reforms to address challenges in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector. At the opening session of the 13th edition of India Chem 2024 in Mumbai, Nadda underscored the government’s commitment to implementing policy interventions to strengthen the petrochemical and chemical sectors. He urged the industry to reduce imports, invest in research and development, and enhance skills.

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