Quality control on polyester yarn postponed for another six months

Surat: BIS Quality Control Order (QCO) gets an extension of six months, after a representation of the city’s weaving industry met the Union minister for health, Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday. The QCO was supposed to come into effect from July 3. “Weaving industry representatives made representations to the government in Delhi and were assured by the Union minister that QCO implementation will be extended for six months,” said Ashok Jirawala, Federation of Gujarat Weaver’s Welfare Association (FOGWWA). He also assured us that weavers will be taken into confidence for any future decision relatiing to QCO, Jirawala added. Earlier, around 20,000 mails had been sent by various associations and industrial socities against the QCO to the ministry. Weaver are afraid that QCOs may have a negative impact on supply of polyester yarn that makes for around 80,000 tonne per month in the city’s weaving industry and in 50,000 weaving units. Along with FOGWWA, Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI) took a lead in raising concerns about the negative impact of QCO on Thursday.In his letter, Bharat Gandhi, chairman of FIASWI said, “QCO should not be used as a trade bearer and should not restrict our right to have international quality of yarn at international competitive price.” The QCO is a matter of concern for the weavers as no foreign polyester yarn holds BIS certificate. They fear local polyester yarn manufacturers, taking advantage of the situation, may increase the prices of yarn further.