The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has extended the implementation timeline for the Quality Control Order (QCO) on the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances. Following stakeholder consultations, the revised QCO was notified on May 19, 2025, and will now come into force on March 19, 2026, for domestic large and medium enterprises, as well as for foreign manufacturers. The QCO applies to electrical appliances intended for household, commercial, or similar applications within specified voltage limits, excluding appliances already covered under other QCOs or mandatory BIS certification. Key relaxations include extended timelines for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), exemptions for imports used for export-oriented production and R&D, and provisions for clearing legacy stock within six months of implementation. This initiative aims to restrict substandard imports, ensure consumer safety, and enhance the competitiveness of Indian industry, aligning with the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" vision.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Commerce Industry DPIIT: The ministry responsible for extending the timeline for the implementation of the Quality Control Order (QCO).
QCO: Quality Control Order on Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances
Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances Quality Control Order, 2025: The specific Quality Control Order (QCO) which implementation timeline has been extended
MSMEs: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, for which relaxations have been introduced in the QCO
Prime Minister: Reference to the Prime Minister's vision for building a robust quality ecosystem in India.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi, the source of the notification.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal: The chair of the stakeholder consultations regarding the QCO.
Shri Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India, whose vision includes establishing a strong quality framework across industries
Made in India: A government initiative aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing and enhancing the global reputation of Indian products.
19th March 2026: The date from which the QCO will come into force for domestic large and medium enterprises as well as for foreign manufacturers.
BIS: Bureau of Indian Standards, the existing mandatory certification requirements.
Micro and Small Enterprises MSEs: Enterprises that get additional time for QCO implementation
Government of India: The governing body striving to create a world-class, self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A vision for a self-reliant India, related to the manufacturing ecosystem.
20 MAY 2025: Date of the notification
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
DPIIT extends timeline for implementation of QCO
on Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar
Electrical Appliances
Relaxations introduced for MSMEs and provisions
made for legacy stock, R&D imports
Initiative aligns with Prime Minister’s vision of
building a robust quality ecosystem in India
Posted On: 20 MAY 2025 4:44PM by PIB Delhi
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce &
Industry, has extended the implementation timeline for the Safety of Household, Commercial and
Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2025. The decision follows stakeholder
consultations chaired by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal on 15th May
2025.
In line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to establish a strong quality framework across
industries, DPIIT has been actively notifying Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to enhance manufacturing
standards and bolster the global reputation of 'Made in India' products. These efforts are complemented by the
development of testing infrastructure, product manuals, and accreditation of testing laboratories.
Taking cognizance of industry concerns regarding implementation challenges and legacy stock, the DPIIT has
notified the revised Quality Control Order on 19th May 2025. To enable ease of doing business, the QCO will
now come into force from 19th March 2026 for domestic large and medium enterprises as well as for foreign
manufacturers.
The QCO applies to all electrical appliances intended for household, commercial, or similar applications with
rated voltage not exceeding 250V for single-phase appliances and 480V for others, including DC-supplied and
battery-operated appliances. Appliances already covered under separate QCOs or existing mandatory BIS
certification requirements are excluded from its ambit.
Further, the QCO incorporates several key relaxations and exemptions:
Additional time for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs): 6-month extension for micro enterprises and 3-
l
month extension for small enterprises.
Exemption for imports by domestic manufacturers for producing export-oriented products.
l
Exemption for import of up to 200 units for Research & Development purposes.
l
Provision for clearance of legacy stock (manufactured or imported before implementation) within six
l
months from the effective date.
The QCO is a critical step in restricting the import of sub-standard products and ensuring consumer safety,
while also enhancing competitiveness of Indian industry. Through initiatives like these, the Government of
India is striving to create a world-class, self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem under the vision of"Aatmanirbhar Bharat."
In conclusion, QCOs reflect a strategic push to raise product standards in India, enabling Indian manufacturers
to thrive in both domestic and international markets.
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Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2129906)