India withdraws QCOs for acetic acid, methanol, and aniline

These QCOs, originally issued in August 2019, mandated that manufacturers and importers of these chemicals obtain Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification to sell their products in the Indian marke

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt. of India has withdrawn quality control orders (QCOs) for three key industrial chemicals: acetic acid, methanol, and aniline to ease compliance burdens for domestic manufacturers, said a 23 July notification.

These chemicals are critical inputs for sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, dyes and intermediates, paints, adhesives, and agrochemicals.

These QCOs, originally issued in August 2019, mandated that manufacturers and importers of these chemicals obtain Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification to sell their products in the Indian market.

India sources significant quantities of acetic acid and aniline from China and the US, while methanol is primarily imported from Gulf countries.

With the withdrawal of these QCOs —a form of non-tariff barrier that mandates strict compliance for both domestic and imported goods, the associated BIS compliance requirements are no longer mandatory for the manufacture and import of these chemicals in India. However, it is not recommended for entities currently holding a BIS licence to surrender their licenses, as the Central Government reserves the right to reinstate the QCOs at any time, without prior notice.