Refined Zinc (Quality Control) Order, 2025

## Report on Refined Zinc Quality Control Order, 2025 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Refined Zinc Quality Control Order, 2025, a new policy issued by the Ministry of Mines, as published in the Gazette of India. The order mandates that refined zinc products conform to Indian Standard IS 209:2024 and bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This measure aims to ensure the quality of refined zinc available in the Indian market by enforcing adherence to specified standards and establishing a certification and enforcement framework. The report highlights the key provisions, target audience, inferred implementation aspects, and expected outcomes of this order. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an informative overview of the Refined Zinc Quality Control Order, 2025. The analysis is based solely on the official policy text published in the Gazette of India, focusing on its key provisions, implementation, and anticipated impact. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a *New Policy*. * **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective of the Refined Zinc Quality Control Order, 2025, as inferred from the text, is to ensure the quality control of refined zinc in the Indian market. This is achieved by mandating compliance with Indian Standards and requiring certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). **4. Background and Rationale:** As this is a *New Policy*, it can be inferred that the government has identified a need to regulate the quality of refined zinc. This might be due to concerns about substandard products entering the market, impacting downstream industries, or hindering the overall quality of zinc-based products in the Indian economy. The policy seeks to address this potential issue by establishing mandatory quality standards. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** Since this is a new policy, the key provisions are: * **Mandatory Compliance:** All refined zinc products (as specified in column 1 of the table) must conform to the Indian Standard IS 209:2024 ("Refined Zinc Specification"). * **Standard Mark:** These products must bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards as per Scheme 1 of Schedule II of the Bureau of Indian Standards Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. * **Application:** The order applies to all refined zinc goods or articles *except* those meant for export. * **Effective Date:** The order comes into force six months from the date of its publication (April 17, 2025). * **Enforcement:** The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is designated as the certifying and enforcing authority. * **Standard Updates:** The latest version of the Indian Standard, as notified by BIS from time to time, will apply. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders are: * **Manufacturers of Refined Zinc:** These manufacturers are directly impacted as they must comply with the quality standards and obtain certification from BIS. * **Importers of Refined Zinc:** Importers (except those for export purposes) must also ensure their products meet the specified Indian Standards and are certified. * **Consumers/Users of Refined Zinc:** Downstream industries and end-users of refined zinc will benefit from the enhanced quality and standardization of the product. * **Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):** BIS plays a crucial role as the certifying and enforcing authority. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the primary agency responsible for certification and enforcement. The Ministry of Mines issued the order. * **Timelines:** The policy comes into effect six months from the date of publication (April 17, 2025), providing manufacturers and importers with a transition period to comply with the new requirements. * **Procedures:** The policy references "Scheme 1 of Schedule II of the Bureau of Indian Standards Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018," implying that existing BIS conformity assessment procedures will be used for certification. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of the Refined Zinc Quality Control Order, 2025 are: * **Improved Quality of Refined Zinc:** Enforcement of Indian Standards is expected to result in higher quality refined zinc products available in the market. * **Standardization:** The policy promotes standardization, ensuring consistency in product quality across different manufacturers and suppliers. * **Consumer Protection:** By ensuring quality, the policy indirectly protects consumers and downstream industries that rely on refined zinc. * **Increased Competitiveness:** Higher quality and standardized products may enhance the competitiveness of the Indian zinc industry. * **Reduced Substandard Products:** The policy should reduce the availability of substandard or non-compliant refined zinc products in the market. **9. Conclusion:** The Refined Zinc Quality Control Order, 2025, is a significant policy initiative aimed at ensuring the quality and standardization of refined zinc in India. By mandating compliance with Indian Standards and establishing a certification framework, the policy is expected to benefit manufacturers, consumers, and the overall zinc industry. Manufacturers should take immediate steps to understand the requirements of IS 209:2024 and begin the process of obtaining certification from BIS to ensure compliance within the stipulated timeframe. The successful implementation of this order will depend on effective enforcement by BIS and proactive compliance by stakeholders.

Key Entities Referenced