In a move to bolster India’s quality ecosystem and enhance industrial competitiveness, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has announced the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026. This order aims to strike a balance between regulatory compliance, innovation, technological progress, and supply chain resilience. The government’s focus is on ensuring the availability of safe, reliable, and standards-compliant products by implementing Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for critical products.
The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026, introduces a flexible sourcing framework for industries to maintain quality standards. It offers an alternative risk-based compliance mechanism to aid a smooth transition for industries while upholding quality assurance and consumer protection. Under this order, domestic industries can source supplies from manufacturers licensed under Scheme II of Schedule II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, instead of Scheme I (ISI Mark Scheme) of BIS.
This order grants permissions based on technical capability, compliance history, commitment to technology advancement, development of design and research capabilities, innovation, and strengthening of domestic supply chain capabilities. It also rewards manufacturers with a track record of consistent adherence to QCO requirements over three years without any default. The provision acknowledges sustained compliance with quality standards and encourages continued adherence to prescribed norms.
The reform aims to streamline industry compliance while upholding quality standards. By offering an alternative compliance mechanism, the order is anticipated to support technological modernization, innovation, and the fortification of India’s manufacturing ecosystem. It is projected to enhance domestic value chains, foster technological progress, alleviate compliance hurdles, and boost India’s integration into global supply chains, thereby reinforcing consumer trust in the quality and safety of products in the Indian market.
