Govt push for quality: Industry embraces QCO on plywood, MDF boards after initial resistance

India's focus on quality standards, including QCOs for plywood and MDF boards, is recognized domestically and internationally.

After initial resistance, the plywood and MDF board industry has agreed to implement the mandatory quality control norms as they have recognised the long-term benefits of adhering to high-quality standards, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

He said India is introducing modern standards that are often harmonised with prevailing standards in other parts of the world, particularly the developed countries.

India's continuous focus on quality is now recoginsed and appreciated within the country and internationally as well, the minister said.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had introduced quality control orders (QCO) for plywood, MDF boards, and other wooden products to boost domestic manufacturing and cut imports of sub-standard goods.

Due to the opposition of the domestic industry, the implementation of the QCO was extended. These mandatory norms will be for domestic and foreign players.

"Initially a lot of resistance was there from the industry. We held several meetings with them and now finally the industry themselves realised the merit in focusing on high quality standards particularly when they are making that quality," Goyal told PTI.

He said 10-12 days ago, the entire industry representing all the manufacturing across the country met and requested that QCO should be put on these products.