| Ministry / Department | Product / Category | Indian Standard | Enforcement Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Ministry of Heavy Industries |
Low-Voltage Switchgear & Controlgear — Part 4, Contactors & Motor-Starters (Semiconductor Motor Controllers, Soft Starters) |
IS/IEC 60947 Part 4, Sec 2:2020 |
10 May 2025 |
Ministry of Heavy Industries |
Low-Voltage Switchgear & Controlgear — Part 4, Section 3 (Semiconductor Contactors for Non-motor loads) |
IS/IEC 60947 Part 4, Sec 3:2020 |
10 May 2025 |
These QCOs will bring many types of semiconductor controllers, contactors, and motor starters under mandatory BIS regulation. Moreover, other product categories (especially in chemicals, packaging, textiles, hardware) are often rumored or planned under future QCOs. For example:
- The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals has been working to push many chemical categories under BIS mandatory norms.
- Some QCOs for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) products have had their enforcement dates postponed to December 2025.
- Recently, certain chemical QCOs for acetic acid, methanol, and aniline were withdrawn from mandatory enforcement—indicating fluid regulatory changes.
These examples highlight that upcoming QCOs cut across electrical, chemical, and industrial domains.
Impacts & Implications of Upcoming QCOs
1. Need for Early Compliance Preparation
Because enforcement dates are in the future, businesses have lead time to upgrade manufacturing quality systems, testing labs, documentation, and BIS certification readiness. Failing to prepare could lead to disruptions once the QCO becomes active.
2. Import & Trade Implications
Once a QCO becomes effective, imported products in those categories must also comply with BIS certification norms (unless specifically exempted). Importers must ensure their suppliers are certified.
3. Cost & Infrastructure Upgrades
Complying may demand investments—laboratories, conformity assessment infrastructure, factory audits, documentation systems. Smaller businesses may struggle without support.
4. Dynamic Regulatory Environment
QCOs are subject to amendment, extension, or even withdrawal (as seen with chemical QCOs). Businesses must monitor announcements, gazette notifications, and BIS updates.
How to Get Ready: Actions Stakeholders Should Take
- Monitor BIS QCO List: Check BIS’s “Upcoming QCOs” page regularly for newly notified orders and enforcement dates.
- Map your product to the IS Standard: Understand which Indian Standard (IS/IEC) will apply under the upcoming QCO.
- Gap Analysis: Determine existing compliance gaps—product design, laboratory testing, manufacturing process, documentation.
- Engage Laboratories and Testing Facilities: Collaborate with the accredited or recognized facilities to conduct the necessary conformity tests.
- Identify Certification Partners: Collaborate with veteran BIS compliance consultants to lead the registration, factory audit, and after-certification services.
- Revised Supply Agreements: Ensure that your upstream suppliers (especially the imported components suppliers) are informed and compliant.
- Track Amendment Notices: QCOs for chemicals have seen postponements and withdrawals—so don’t assume permanence.
A Few More Upcoming QCOs & Their Details
In addition to the Low-Voltage Switchgear QCOs already notified, there are several other product categories under QCO notifications or rumors:
| Product Categoory | Indian Standard(s) / Reference | Enforcement / Implementation Date | Notes /Context |
|---|---|---|---|
Low-Voltage Switchgear & Controlgear — Contactors, Soft Starters, Motor Starters |
IS/IEC 60947 Part 4 Section 2 / Section 3 |
10 May 2025 |
Already notified; manufacturers of semiconductor controllers must adhere to new QCOs |
Switchgear & Control Gear (General, ≤1000 V) |
As per S.O. 3649(E) (Order under Electrical Equipment QCO) |
28 August 2025 |
Many switchgear components will come under the fold |
Machinery & Electrical Assemblies |
Under Scheme X / Omnibus Technical Regulation |
28 August 2025 |
Broad industrial machinery, assemblies, subassemblies may be regulated |
PVC & PP Products |
IS for PVC homopolymers, PP materials for moulding/extrusion |
Implementation delayed to December 2025) |
Originally notified, but timelines extended further |
Plywood, Wooden Flush Door Shutters, Fire-Retardant Plywood |
IS codes like IS 303, IS 710, IS 5509, etc. |
28 February 2025 |
Structural and interior wood hardware for construction coming under QCO |
Fasteners, Screws (Cross-recessed, tapping screws, etc.) |
IS 18471 (various parts) |
20 March 2025 |
Common hardware parts will need to comply with BIS norms |
Textile / Sacks / Laminated Woven Sacks (HDPE / PP) |
IS 11652, IS 16709, IS 17399 etc. |
6 June 2025 |
Packaging materials and sacks are being regulated under chemical / textile QCOs |
Chemicals: Acetic Acid, Methanol, Aniline, etc. |
IS 695, IS 517, IS 2833 etc. |
3 August 2025 |
Many chemical intermediates were under QCO orders; some were later withdrawn or deferred |
These developments show that the future QCO list will go beyond the narrow ambit of electric articles to encompass chemical, textile, building hardware, packaging, and other articles.
Omnibus Technical Regulation on the Safety of Machinery and Electrical Equipment
The Omnibus Technical Regulation of Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety is an umbrella legislation enacted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to advance the level of safety in a large variety of industrial as well as consumer products.
The statute, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, requires mandatory certification for imports, manufacture, as well as sale of identified machinery and electric equipment, with the intent to prevent potential risks such as electric hazard, mechanical breakdowns, as well as operational inefficacies.
With an effective date of September 1, 2026, it includes the long list of items ranging from entries 98 to 117 in the schedule of the BIS, with a special stress on the inclusion of assemblies, sub-assemblies, as well as components to achieve comprehensive compliance.
1. Main Machinery Covered
Under this regulation includes-
- Diverse processing and construction equipment essential for industrial applications. For instance, it encompasses all types of pumps for handling liquids, liquid elevators, compressors, and centrifuges used in fluid management and purification processes.
- Moreover, equipment pertaining to material processing with temperature variations, bottle filling, closing, sealing, labeling, packaging, or wrapping processes also ensue within its purview, as do heavy-duty vehicles such as cranes, earthmoving, mining, and construction machinery.
- The statute also covers special tools such as weaving equipment (looms), embroidery machines, metal cutting machine tools (in sub-heads 8456 to 8461), and stone working, ceramic working, concrete working, or mineral material working equipment.
Electrical Equipment Front
- The Omnibus Technical Regulation aims at crucial parts that drive current industries as well as homes, focusing on dependability as well as risk avoidance.
- It lays down specifications for rotating electric machines including generators, diesel generators, transformers, as well as power semiconductor converters, the constituents of power distribution as well as power conversion systems.
- Switchgear and controlgear apparatus with a voltage of up to 1000 V or over 1000 V are specifically covered, encompassing key protective and switching arrangements within electric networks.
- This wide coverage includes the supporting of QCOs of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear, including contactors, motor-starters, proximity switches, circuit-breakers, and electromechanical control-circuit devices, with step-by-step implementations beginning as early as May 10, 2025, for some variants (e.g., IS/IEC 60947 standards).
Challenges & Uncertainties
- Uncertainty in Scope & Dates: At times the dates of enforcement are different between subcategory or voltage rating (i.e. high-voltage vs low-voltage).
- Regulatory Hold-ups: Some QCOs are delayed or postponed, and this makes planning more challenging (like PVC/PP case).
- Cost Burden on SMEs: Smaller firms may struggle with compliance investment.
- Importing Complexity: International manufacturers must navigate regulation across borders plus compliance in India.
- Possible Future Reversals: As seen with withdrawal of certain chemical QCOs, regulatory frameworks sometimes retract.
- Shifting Deadlines and Withdrawals – A challenge is that QCOs may be postponed or withdrawn. For instance, certain chemical QCOs were later withdrawn by government notification in July 2025. Likewise, implementation dates for PVC / PP QCOs have been pushed to December 2025. This introduces regulatory uncertainty for businesses.
External Link for Upcoming QCO’s
Here is below listed the link from the government of India website for all the upcoming QCO’s for your reference and compliance.
https://www.bis.gov.in/upcoming-qcos-notified-and-due-for-implementation/?lang=hi
Conclusion
The BIS “Upcoming QCOs” program is a valuable opportunity for the industry to foresee new regulatory requirements and synchronize compliance strategy in advance. For the electrical, chemical, machinery, and industrial products industries, such future QCOs translate into a paradigm from voluntary to mandatory conformity—a development with broad-based strategic, operational, as well as fiscal repercussions.
Those who wish to stay one step ahead must take action now: product mapping, gap filling, cooperation with compliance professionals, monitoring of regulatory developments, and preparing to change. On this shifting regulatory landscape, vision and readiness will dictate who will lead—and who will lag.
