Indian Steel Bottle Industry Lauds Government's Quality Control Measures, Urges Continuance

Jaipur, Jan 25 (KNN) The All India Steel Bottles Association commends the Indian government's recent introduction of Quality Control Orders (QCO) for stainless steel vacuum-insulated water bottles and portable stainless steel water bottles.

Aligned with 'Make in India,' 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat,' and broader goals for a 'Swasth Bharat' and sustainable environment, the move is expected to create around 25,000 new jobs, primarily in the MSME sector.

The import lobby has requested a six-month extension on the BIS implementation, raising concerns among domestic manufacturers.

However, the All India Steel Bottles Association emphasises the critical need for the non-extension of the QCO implementation date.

Currently, manufacturing units are obtaining licenses, and any delay could lead to inefficiencies, jeopardising investments, and creating market imbalances with low-quality imports.

Over 30 per cent of the workforce, predominantly women, face the risk of unemployment due to the potential surge in imports.

Mr. Bharat Agarwal, Director of Crown Craft, a leading player in the industry, expressed gratitude to the government for the QCO, stating that it will provide a lifeline to the industry and offer Indian consumers better quality products.

He urged against an extension, highlighting the readiness of Indian companies to replace import volumes immediately.

Mr. Vedant Padia, Director of Placero International Pvt. Ltd, raised concerns about China's influx of low-quality products threatening MSME manufacturers.

Despite challenges, India's MSMEs have shown the capacity to meet domestic requirements.

Mr. Pedia anticipates that BIS implementation will lead to the establishment of more factories in India within 1-2 years, boosting both production scale and quality.

Mr. Vikas Jain, Director of Nanobot Housewares Solutions, expressed confidence in the industry's growth, emphasising the investments made to bolster capacities.

The industry, collectively urging stakeholders to support timely BIS QCO implementation, aims to create a thriving and competitive environment, especially for the MSME sector.

Rakesh Jain, Director of Atlas Metal Processors Pvt Ltd, highlighted the importance of the BIS QCO in establishing industry-wide standards, promoting fair competition, and ultimately benefiting consumers.

The industry calls upon stakeholders, policymakers, and influencers to support the timely implementation of BIS QCO, ensuring a thriving and competitive environment, especially for the MSME sector.

(KNN Bureau)