SME industries have until April 1, 2025, to comply, and industries have six months to migrate in order to exhaust legacy stock.
The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, had issued Quality Control Order (QCO) for medical textiles, Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2024, to ensure safety and efficacy of critical products covered under this segment. The order sets stringent quality standards, including testing protocols and labelling requirements for these products.
The Ministry has extended the deadline for compliance with the ibid QCO, specifically for three items under Schedule A of the aforementioned order—sanitary napkins, baby nappies, and reusable sanitary pads/sanitary napkins/period panties—until April 1, 2025, in recognition of the particular difficulties faced by SMEs. SMEs will be able to adjust to the new rules thanks to this exception without having to sacrifice how they do business.
In order to ensure a seamless transition, manufacturers and importers have been given a 6-month window, or until June 30, 2025, to remove their current legacy inventories. The industry will be able to adapt to the new quality requirements with minimal interruption thanks to this clause.
These steps are intended to boost confidence within the healthcare sector and the final patient while also improving safety and efficacy. Supporting the industry’s shift to quality standards is a priority for the Ministry of Textiles.