India’s Mines Ministry Proposes Quality Control on Key Mineral Sales

The QCO is part of the government's efforts to make sure that minerals used in various industries across the country satisfy the quality standards

New quality control measures for the sale of primary lead, refined nickel, zinc, and tin ingots in India have been proposed by the Ministry of Mines. On Thursday, the ministry announced its mission to implement these measures through a Quality Control Order (QCO), with aim of regulating the quality and standard of these crucial minerals in the market.

The new regulations proposed by the ministry have been enforced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which will be overseeing the issuing licenses to regulate the sale of these minerals. The QCO is part of the government's efforts to make sure that minerals used in various industries across the country satisfy the quality standards, protecting imports for both domestic consumption and. The ministry has requested stakeholders, including industry users and associated organizations, to submit their feedback on the draft QCOs within the next 60 days. This feedback process is implemented to ensure that the proposed regulations are comprehensive and consider the perspectives of those directly impacted by the changes. This strategic move is followed the ministry's notification in September last year of similar quality control measures for seven items, including aluminum and aluminum alloys. Those QCOs mandated compulsory certification under Indian Standards (IS) for the production and import of these items, reflecting the government's increasing focus on quality assurance across critical sectors.

Once the new QCOs are implemented, the sale of primary lead, refined nickel, zinc, and tin ingots will be regulated strictly, marking a significant move towards strengthening India’s mineral standards.