Agro Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2023:
On September 27, 2023, the Ministry of Textiles notified in Gazette Notification S.O. 4248(E) Agro Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2023. This order mandates that specific Agro Textiles categories must adhere to Indian Standards and bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Scope of the QCO
The Agro Textiles listed in below table is prescribed in Agro Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2023 is now mandated for BIS Scheme – I ISI mark certification.
Indian Standard
IS 16718: 2021
Product Name
Polypropylene Spun Bonded Non—Woven Crop Cover and Fruit Skirting Bags for Agriculture and Horticulture Applications
Indian Standard
IS 16513: 2016
Product Name
Insect nets for Agriculture and Horticulture purpose
Indian Standard
IS 16202: 2014
Product Name
Woven Ground covers for Horticulture Application
Indian Standard
IS 17070: 2019
Product Name
Jute Agro textiles for Growth of Plants and Suppression of Weeds
Indian Standard
IS 15907: 2010
Product Name
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) woven beds for vermiculture
Indian Standard
IS 16089: 2013
Product Name
Sapling bags for growth of seedling /sapling
Indian Standard
IS 16190: 2014
Product Name
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) laminated woven lay flat tube for irrigation purpose
Indian Standard
IS 16390: 2015
Product Name
Nylon Knitted seamless gloves for tobacco harvesters
Indian Standard
IS 16627: 2017
Product Name
High density polyethylene (HDPE) laminated woven lay flat tube for use in mains and submains of drip irrigation system
Indian Standard
IS 17355: 2020
Product Name
Propylene Spun bonded non—woven mulch mat for agriculture and horticulture applications
Indian Standard
IS 17356: 2020
Product Name
Windshield nets for agriculture and horticulture purpose
Indian Standard
IS 17357: 2020
Product Name
Harvest nets for agriculture and horticulture purposes
Indian Standard
IS 17358 (Part 1): 2020
Product Name
Fencing nets for agriculture and horticulture purposes – made from extruded polymer mesh
Indian Standard
IS 17358 (Part 2): 2020
Product Name
Fencing nets for agriculture and horticulture purposes -made from mono filament yarns and combination of tape and mono filament yarns
Indian Standard
IS 17513: 2020
Product Name
Plant Support Nets for Agriculture and Horticulture Purposes
Indian Standard
IS 17728: 2021
Product Name
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Laminated Woven Lay Flat Tube and Fittings for use in Rain Irrigation System
Indian Standard
IS 17729: 2021
Product Name
Flexible Water Storage Tank for Agriculture and Horticulture Purposes
Indian Standard
IS 17730 (Part 1): 2021
Product Name
Hail Protection Nets for Agriculture and Horticulture Purposes- Warp Knitted Hail Protection Nets
Indian Standard
IS 17730 (Part 2): 2021
Product Name
Hail Protection Nets for Agriculture and Horticulture Purposes – Woven Hail Protection Nets
Indian Standard
IS 17731: 2021
Product Name
Laminated Woven Orchard Protection Covers
Actors affected by the QCO
Foreign Manufacturers
Foreign manufacturers can obtain a licence to use the Standard Mark on products that comply with the applicable Indian Standards under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).
To apply, the manufacturer must appoint an Indian resident as an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR). The application process is online, and the overall timeline for obtaining the licence is typically longer—generally around 6 months or more.
Domestic Manufacturers
Domestic manufacturers can obtain a licence to use the Standard Mark through the BIS Product Certification Scheme for products conforming to relevant Indian Standards.
The application process is conducted online, and the typical timeline for obtaining certification is approximately 2–3 months.
Process to obtain BIS Licence
Key Penalties and Legal Consequences
- Fines:Initial offenses carry a fine of no less than ₹1,00,000, while subsequent offences can lead to fines of ₹5,00,000 but may extend up to ten times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold
- Imprisonment:Up to two years for selling, manufacturing, or importing goods without the mandatory ISI mark.
- Seizure and Action:The BIS can conduct raids, seize products without the mark, and initiate legal action.
- Stop-marking/Sales Ban:Authorities can ban the sale of products, order product recalls, and cancel BIS licenses.
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