To check the import of low-quality viscose staple fibre (VSF), the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) is planning to make the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandatory for the items by issuing a Quality Control Order (QCO) and imposing it on imports as well.
VSF is a manmade, bio-degradable fibre used for manufacturing various textiles products.
Following a communication from the MoT, the Department of Commerce notified the draft VSF QCO 2022 at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), seeking comments of interested member countries within 60 days.
“There is an urgent need to make them applicable on imports which will restrict imports of sub-standard VSF products by mandating the BIS Certification with BIS VSE Standard,” the communication said.
As per a report of The Hindu Business Line, this move of Government comes just a year after anti-dumping duties (ADD) on import of VSF from China and Indonesia were revoked to make the domestic user industry, including manufacturers of garments and yarn, more competitive.
In India, Grasim Industries (Aditya Birla Group) dominates the production of VSF.
The draft QCO was shared with BIS and comments were sought from them. “As per the comments received, draft QCO has been duly revised. Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice have also vetted the draft QCO and found it formally in order,” it said.
It is being said that the QCO shall not apply to VSF meant for export, which conform to the specification required by the foreign buyer, the draft points out.
The order will come into force 180 days after its adoption.
VSF needs to conform to the corresponding Indian standard and should bear the standard mark under a licence from the BIS.
The BIS shall be the certifying and enforcing authority for VSF. An officer not below the rank of Assistant Director, Textiles Committee, MoT, shall also be the enforcing authority.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
