Cotton Ginners Unprepared For QCO; Seek Deferral

New Delhi, Aug 3 (KNN) Industry bodies, including the Cotton Association of India (CAI) are urging the government to delay the implementation of proposed Quality Control Order (QCO) for cotton bales.

The arrival of new cotton crop, set to enter the market in September, is progressing well in northern India. 

However, the ginning industry is likely to experience disruption as they are not prepared to adhere to the IS 1217:2019 standard prescribed under the QCO. 

Ginners from various states convened in a virtual meeting on Tuesday. They have decided to form a national body to strongly represent their interests. 

They expressed a unified resistance to the QCO, citing a lack of readiness to comply. They threatened to halt production for the new season and boycott the tender process of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) if the QCO is enforced without their consent.

Despite a notification issued five months ago, stating that the orders would take effect after 180 days, the ginning industry still remains unprepared for compliance by the deadline of August 31.   (KNN Bureau)