India Implements Quality Control Orders for Three Chemicals.

On 14 November 2024, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), in consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), issued a notification to implement Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for three critical chemicals: H Acid (CAS No: 90-20-0), K Acid (Cas No: 118-03-6), and Vinyl Sulphone (CAS No: 16071-86-6). These orders aim to enhance safety and quality in the industrial chemicals sector and are based on drafts published on 26 July 2024. 

Key Requirements under the New QCOs 

These chemicals must conform to Indian Standards and must bear the standard mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards as per Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 governs the use of Standard Marks, with the Bureau of Indian Standards as the certifying and enforcing authority. Chemicals intended for export are exempted from this order. 

Standards for the notified chemicals 

Date of Enforcement 

The QCOs will come into force on 13 May 2025 (180 days after publication). The full text of the Gazette Notification can be found here.