Rapid Fire
Quality Control Order on Viscose Staple Fibre
- 06 Mar 2024
- 2 min read
Significant shifts have occurred in the textile supply chain in less than a year since the enforcement of a strict Quality Control Order (QCO) on viscose staple fibre (VSF) in India.
- VSF imports dropped by 65% after the enforcement of the QCO in April 2023.
- VSF is a natural, biodegradable, semi-synthetic fibre that has similar characteristics to cotton. It's made from wood or cotton pulp and is versatile, easily blendable, and light and breathable.
- It is widely used in apparel, home textiles, dress material, knitted wear and non-woven applications.
- A QCO is a non-tariff trade barrier that bars manufacturers, importers, and distributors from storing or selling a product without a licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that certifies specific quality standards being met.
- The implementation of QCO holds significant importance in regulating the influx of sub-quality and cheaper imports to ensure customers get quality products
- Small and medium-sized spinning mills faced challenges due to restricted access to cheaper VSF imports.
- Industry representatives advocate for reversing QCOs on raw materials, proposing enforcement solely on finished products.
Read more: Quality Control Orders
