India has reimposed Quality Control Order (QCO) compliance on polyester yarn imports after the Gujarat High Court stayed the Centre’s earlier decision to withdraw mandatory quality norms for key synthetic yarn categories. The move is expected to tighten import scrutiny and offer relief to domestic polyester yarn manufacturers, while raising concerns among downstream textile players over supply and input costs.
The Office of the Principal Commissioner of Customs at Mundra issued directions on 15th May instructing officials to strictly enforce Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and QCO compliance for polyester yarn products including fully drawn yarn (FDY), partially oriented yarn (POY) and drawn textured yarn (DTY). The order came after interim relief granted by the Gujarat High Court in cases challenging the government’s November 2025 notification that had rescinded the QCOs.
The development marks a reversal from the government’s November 2025 move to ease compliance requirements across the polyester and petrochemical value chain. At the time, the withdrawal of QCOs for products such as PTA, EG, PSF, FDY and POY had been welcomed by sections of the textile industry, which argued that the norms were disrupting raw material availability and impacting global competitiveness.
Industry stakeholders remain divided over the latest development. Domestic polyester yarn producers are expected to benefit from stricter checks on imported material and tighter enforcement of quality standards. However, weaving, knitting and texturising units fear that reduced import flexibility could lead to higher raw material prices and supply constraints, especially as polyester yarn prices are already firming due to rising feedstock costs.
The dispute reflects broader tensions within India’s synthetic textile value chain, where manufacturers and downstream users continue to differ over the role of quality regulations, import competition and cost pressures. Until further orders from the Gujarat High Court, customs authorities are expected to continue enforcing BIS compliance for polyester yarn imports covered under the reinstated framework
