The Indian textile industry has welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw the Quality Control Order (QCO) on machinery and electrical equipment safety, announced in January 2026. The move removes mandatory certification requirements for a wide range of imported textile machinery, providing greater operational flexibility for manufacturers and importers.
The withdrawal, notified by the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries through a gazette notification on 16 January 2026, formally rescinds the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024. The government cited public interest considerations under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, following concerns raised by industry stakeholders about compliance costs, supply delays, and the limited availability of advanced domestic machinery.
For textile manufacturers, exporters, and foreign investors, the rollback ensures continued access to high-performance imported equipment, critical for capacity expansion, technology upgrades, and maintaining global competitiveness.
Key Implications for the Textile Sector
The rescission of the 2024 Omnibus Technical Regulation has immediate consequences for India’s textile industry:
- No mandatory BIS certification is now required for covered textile machinery and electrical equipment.
- Import flows remain unrestricted, ensuring access to specialized weaving, embroidery, and processing machinery.
- Compliance costs and lead-time risks associated with safety certification and documentation are eliminated.
- Investment planning certainty improves for modernization and expansion projects reliant on imported equipment.
The QCO was initially scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2026 after multiple deferrals since August 2024. Its withdrawal removes regulatory uncertainty that had concerned both domestic and foreign industry participants.
Industry Response
Industry associations, especially in Gujarat’s major textile hubs such as Surat, had argued that the QCO would impose excessive compliance burdens on a sector heavily reliant on imported machinery. The South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) highlighted that the regulation could slow growth in one of India’s largest textile clusters, where modern machinery is essential for productivity, quality, and export competitiveness.
India’s textile market, currently valued at approximately US$165 billion and projected to reach US$350 billion by 2030, is expected to require around US$15 billion in investments for nearly 450,000 high-speed weaving machines, many of which are not manufactured domestically. The embroidery segment similarly depends on imported machinery, with rapid technology upgrades necessitating equipment replacement every two to three years.
Senior textile leaders noted that nearly 95% of machinery in the sector is imported and warned that strict safety certification norms could have disrupted production, delayed modernization, and led to potential job losses across the textile value chain.
Background: The 2024 QCO
The Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 was introduced to establish mandatory safety and certification requirements for machinery and electrical equipment, under BIS consultation.
Scope and Applicability:
- Covered machines, electrical equipment, assemblies, sub-assemblies, and components.
- Exemptions included products already under other BIS QCOs, goods manufactured exclusively for export, and construction equipment regulated under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
Textile Machinery Covered:
| Machinery Type | HS Codes | Applicable IS | Title of IS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weaving machines (looms) | 8446, 844811, 844819, 844842, 844849 | IS 17361 (Part 6): 2020 / ISO 11111 (Part 6): 2005 | Textile machinery safety requirements – Part 6: fabric manufacturing machinery |
| Embroidery machinery | 84479020, 844859 | IS 17361 (Part 1): 2020 / ISO 11111 (Part 1): 2016 | Textile machinery safety requirements – Part 1: common requirements |
Compliance Requirements:
- Type A: General safety principles and risk assessment
- Type B: Specific safety aspects
- Type C: Product-specific safety requirements
Additional obligations included BIS Scheme X labeling, maintenance of a technical file, and registration with BIS prior to certification. Non-compliance carried penalties under the BIS Act, 2016.
Reasons for Withdrawal
Despite safety objectives, the QCO faced sustained opposition due to:
- Limited domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced textile machinery
- High compliance costs for foreign suppliers
- Risk of import delays
- Rapid machinery replacement cycles
Although originally notified in 2024, the regulation was repeatedly deferred before being formally rescinded in January 2026.
Looking Ahead
By removing the QCO ahead of its planned implementation, the government has eliminated significant regulatory uncertainty. Manufacturers retain access to advanced machinery essential for modernization and export competitiveness, while foreign investors benefit from a more predictable market.
Companies are advised to continue regulatory monitoring, engage early in policy consultations, and plan for possible future changes in compliance frameworks. While immediate certification obligations are lifted, a revised regulatory structure could be introduced later with phased timelines and broader industry consultation.