UPDATE: Indian government postponed the implementation of Indian Standards

According to market sources, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has decided to postpone the implementation of the quality control previously set to come into effect on 15 October 2021 on all PE and EVA cargoes produced locally or overseas. The new deadline has been set to 6 April 2022. 

As reported earlier, the Indian government in April announced the implementation of the Quality Control Order on various plastic raw materials and chemicals, which include PE and EVA. Suppliers would have to submit an application for use of the Standard Mark on the products, which could take up to six months for foreign producers to obtain the BIS license. Without the Standard Mark, the cargoes will not be allowed to pass the Customs.

In August, buyers have submitted a request for an extension of the grace period before the implementation of the new quality control citing the movement restrictions during the outbreak that hurdle the application process.

Indian buyers have been holding back on import purchases over the past months on the concern over the overseas producers’ inability to obtain the certification in time and the unclear guidelines on the implementation. Purchasing activities might pick up in the near term following the extension of the grace period.