BIS Update – Proposed QCO on Writing and Printing Papers, Coated Paper and Board

WTO Members are invited to make comments, if any, within 60 days (approximately) of issuance of the notification i.e. by August 16, 2025.

The Draft QCO would come into force in a staggered manner for different types of enterprises once published in the Official Gazette:

• For micro enterprises: Twelve months from the date of publication.
• For small enterprises: Nine months from the date of publication.
• For all enterprises other than micro and small enterprises: Six months from the date of publication.

The Draft QCO exempts certain kind of goods or articles from its ambit, such as:

• Goods manufactured domestically for export;
• Imports of up to five tons of goods or articles, per year, if imported for R&D by manufacturers of such goods or articles, subject to additional conditions including prohibition on being sold commercially.

Concerned manufacturers of the abovementioned goods or articles may raise any comments or questions atthe WTO level through their respective governments within the 60-day comment period. Alternatively,questions or comments may be shared directly via e-mail to the Indian Government at the following e-mail id:  rajesh.rawat@nic.in or  paper-367@gov.in. Upon the conclusion of the aforementioned period, the Indian Government may finalize the Draft QCO and notify the same in the Indian gazette to enter into force on a specified date.

Post the enforcement of the QCO, products specified therein would not be permitted to be sold in India without certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards.