New Delhi, Dec 5 (KNN) The Process Plant and Machinery Association of India (PPMAI) which represents the capital goods and  process equipment manufacturing and exporting  industry has urged the Union Ministry of Steel and Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs to immediately ban all non-standard stainless steel being used for consumer ware in the country.

The association has requested the steel ministry to modify the stainless steel products quality control order to stop influx of seconds, defectives and non-standard stainless steel products in all grades of stainless steel from foreign and domestic sources, said Yatinder Pal Singh Suri, Chairman, PPMAI.

 “These products are mostly being used for consumer utensils and low end industrial application. It accounts for more than 60 % of Indian market and surprisingly was not been included in the quality control order,” he added.

The non-standard grades of stainless steel are currently being used for consumer ware including utensils in the country, Suri said.

He pointed that such grades also end up in usage by small fabricators for critical smaller equipment for use in industrial applications which can lead to failures, accidents and fatalities.

Appealing the ministry to ban non-standard stainless steel, Suri said this will help in restricting the production and import of inferior grade products that are consumed in various important end-use segments such as power distribution, human health and safety of infrastructure and construction.

"Stainless steel is top choice for cookware worldwide and is supposed to last forever and is considered as one of the most versatile, durable and safe. Poor quality of stainless steel is venerable to rust and tear,” said Puri.

Besides, PPMAI has also urged union government to exclude all grades and sizes of steel which can be produced in India by BIS approved qualified suppliers available within the country from all current and future Free Trade Agreements (FTA's).

Suri said “We must also ensure that Steel which cannot be produced in India should be kept in the list for special duty waivers because it will help capital goods and engineering industry to be competitive globally and also in domestic markets."

He further added that the ministry of steel should also mandate that all steel equipment needed for steel making process from ore to coils and sheets, materials handling equipment and plant sheds for all new investments related to 170mt expansion must be fabricated in India.