India's Glass and Ceramics Clusters
Quality Standards and BIS
How quality control orders from the Bureau of Indian Standards now cover tiles, sanitaryware and glass, and how they affect imports and small makers.
India requires quality standards for many products.
Quality control orders
The government issued QCOs requiring BIS certification for items like ceramic tiles, sanitaryware and some glass products.
Goals
- Safety and quality.
- Blocking substandard imports.
Effects
- Imports fell in some categories.
- Small makers faced compliance costs.
Criticism
Critics say too many QCOs act as non-tariff barriers and raise input costs.
Balance
Standards can build trust but must be practical for small firms.
The certified tile
A tile maker gets BIS certification before selling, adding testing costs.
Thinking standards always help small firms
They can raise costs.
Key takeaways
- QCOs require BIS certification.
- They block substandard imports.
- Small makers face compliance costs.
- Critics call some non-tariff barriers.
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