Implementation of QCO for cotton bales postponed to August 2026
2025-07-08 11:24:54
Cotton Bale QCO extended till August 2026
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has postponed the implementation of Quality Control Order on cotton bales to August 2026 from August this year.
The Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Order, 2023 has been amended to implement the order from August 27, 2026.
Industry sources said the textile industry, which is the main consumer of cotton, has welcomed the decision of the Central government to postpone implementation of Quality Control Order on cotton bales.
However, it should withdraw the Quality Control Order for cotton as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for cotton bales do not have norms for contamination levels permitted for cotton. The contamination levels are high in Indian cotton and the industry imports high quality cotton that is contamination free. The cotton growers in other countries will not go in for BIS certification.
Further, overseas garment brands are nominating the raw material suppliers now and the Indian textile industry sources substantial quantity of cotton or yarn from the nominated suppliers. They will miss the orders as these suppliers will not have BIS registration.
Since there are several practical challenges in implementing the order, the government should withdraw it, they said.
