Mandatory BIS Certification For Stainless Steel Pipes & Tubes From Aug 1

New Delhi, Feb 13 (KNN) The government has mandated quality control standards for stainless steel seamless pipes and tubes through a new order issued on February 10, 2025.

The 'Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes (Quality Control) Order, 2025,' which takes effect from August 1, requires all such products to carry the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark before they can be produced, sold, traded, imported, or stored.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has included a specific exemption for research and development purposes, allowing manufacturers to import up to 500 kilograms of these products annually.

However, these imported materials must not be sold commercially and should be disposed of as scrap after research use.

The order carries substantial penalties for non-compliance. First-time violators of the BIS Act face up to two years’ imprisonment or a minimum fine of Rs 2 lakh.

Subsequent violations incur heavier penalties, with fines starting at Rs 5 lakh and potentially reaching up to ten times the value of the goods involved.

This initiative is part of a broader quality control framework implemented by the DPIIT since 1987, which now encompasses 81 Quality Control Orders covering more than 330 products.

These measures, which align with the World Trade Organisation's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, have been applied to various consumer goods including cement, LPG gas stoves, pressure cookers, and household appliances.

The department emphasises that these mandatory quality standards serve multiple purposes including, preventing substandard imports, protecting against unfair trade practices, and safeguarding consumer interests and environmental standards.

(KNN Bureau)