The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has notified the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026. The order creates an alternative compliance route for industry under India’s Quality Control Order framework.
According to the Press Information Bureau, the new order is meant to help industry manage the move to quality control requirements while keeping quality assurance and consumer protection in place. It is framed as a risk-based mechanism, with permissions linked to a company’s capability and past compliance record.
What the 2026 order changes
Quality Control Orders, or QCOs, are used by the government for specified products to ensure that goods meet prescribed standards. DPIIT has issued such orders for critical products as part of the government’s effort to make safe, reliable and standards-compliant products available in the market.
The Transition Facilitation Order gives domestic industry an additional route for sourcing supplies. It allows procurement from manufacturers holding licences under Scheme II of Schedule II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. This is an alternative to procurement under Scheme I, also known as the ISI Mark Scheme.
The change does not remove quality requirements. Instead, it provides a different compliance path for eligible cases, based on assessment and permission.
Basis for granting permission
Permissions under the order will be granted after considering specific factors. DPIIT has listed the following broad criteria:
- technical capability of the manufacturer;
- demonstrated compliance history;
- commitment towards technology advancement or adoption;
- development of design and research capabilities;
- innovation; and
- strengthening of domestic supply chain capabilities.
These conditions show that the order is aimed at companies that can show both compliance and capacity. It also links the relaxation mechanism with technology and supply chain development, instead of treating it only as a procedural exemption.
Benefit for consistent QCO compliance
The order also covers manufacturers that have followed QCO requirements for a continuous period of three years without any default. This provision recognises sustained compliance with the prescribed standards.
For such manufacturers, the new route may reduce practical hurdles while continuing to keep them within the quality control framework. The PIB note says the provision is intended to encourage continued adherence to quality requirements.
Why the order matters for industry
Many industries depend on steady access to inputs and components. When a quality control requirement changes sourcing rules, companies may need time to align suppliers, approvals and production processes. The 2026 order seeks to ease that transition without stepping away from the standards-based approach.
The government expects the mechanism to support technological modernisation and innovation. It is also expected to reduce compliance bottlenecks and help strengthen domestic value chains.
The PIB statement says the initiative is aimed at improving India’s integration with global supply chains while reinforcing consumer confidence in the quality and safety of products available in the Indian market.
The order fits within the wider use of QCOs by DPIIT to support standardisation and improved manufacturing practices. Its immediate focus is on creating a structured transition route for eligible manufacturers and domestic industry, with permissions tied to compliance history and technical capability.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India.