New norms on anvil to deal with sub-standard imports

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The government is working towards strengthening standards norms and certification for the shipments coming into the country, as a part of its strategy to rein sub-standard imports from countries including China.

“We are pushing for certain standardisation of products that come into the country. This will not only result in exports promotion, but also curb cheap imports from countries,” a senior government official told Moneycontrol.

Any item that enters the Indian shores must adhere to certain quality and standards, the official said, adding that sector regulators such as Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Bureau of Indian Standards, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), among others are working towards setting certain standards and technical regulations for imports.

Another government official said that the commerce ministry has told other ministries to consistently monitor and review imports of goods pertaining to their industry.

Former Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that India should provide quality goods at an affordable price and set standards, rather than following them.

In May, Sitharaman also launched the India Standards Portal that acts as a hub for all information on standards, technical regulations, accreditation practices, and the related bodies in India.

The development comes at a time when there has also been a growing clamour on for import restriction on items, especially related to renewable energy, electronics and information technology as inward shipments of these products has escalated from China.

Indian steel industry had in the last two years faced the brunt of surge in cheap imports, especially from China that rendered local companies uncompetitive.

Similarly, in the last two years, government had imposed quality control order on steel products, after imports Indian market was flooded with poor quality imports of the alloy. Of the total inward shipments, China—the largest producer, consumer and exporter of the alloy—accounted for most of it.

India's bilateral trade with China was USD 71.4 billion in the last financial year.

Of India’s total imports worth USD 384.35 billion, China’s share was nearly 16 percent during 2016-17. Of India’s total exports worth USD 275.85 billion, China’s share was 3.7 percent.