Govt to bar sale of sub-standard stainless steel, utensil makers face uncertain future

BIS hallmark mandatory from 3 months from date of official notification, stainless steel manufacturers welcome move

In what will be a major blow to utensil manufacturers, the central government is going to prohibit trading in sub-standard stainless steel. Utensil exporters, however, would not be covered.

Three months will be given to traders and utensil manufacturers to adhere to the guidelines, once notified. The order, says the steel ministry, goes: “No person shall by himself or through any person on his behalf manufacture or store for sale, sell or distribute any stainless steel product which do not conform to the specified standards and do not bear the standard mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), on obtaining a certification mark licence from BIS.”

Primarily, stainless steel sheets and strips for utensils (IS 5522), low nickel austenitic stainless steel sheets and strips for utensils and kitchen appliances (IS 15997) and stainless steel plate, sheet and strip (IS 6911) grades of raw materials require mandatory BIS certification from now.

This order will not apply in relation to export of stainless steel products which conform to any other specification required by the foreign buyer, it clarified.

Stainless steel manufacturers have welcomed the move.

“Considering the diverse and extremely strategic applications of stainless steel, this order, if enacted, will go a long way in securing the interest of domestic consumers. It will also benefit the public at large, considering the fact that we are exposed to stainless steel in one form or the other in all walks of life. This order will also help to curb the import of sub-standard stainless steel and help to create conditions of free and fair competition in the industry,” said N C Mathur, President of the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (Issda)

Domestic utensil manufacturers have been importing sheets from China, Korea and other countries for several years. Issda has been trying to convince the government for years to ban imports. About two months earlier, the government levied an anti-dumping duty on certain grades of stainless steel flat imports.

Utensil manufacturers have opposed the move. Hitendra Bhalaria, managing director of Bhalaria Metal Craft, a stainless steel manufacturer and exporter in this city, said: “Around 98 per cent of stainless steel utensils currently produced and sold in India would be rejected. Many utensil manufacturers would go out of the market. Also, utensils would be costlier at least by 15-20 per cent as raw material could be costlier by a similar proportion.”

Domestic utensil manufacturers have been importing sheets from China, Korea and other countries for several years, a practice that Issda has been trying to convince the government to ban. About two months earlier, the government levied an anti-dumping duty on certain grades of stainless steel flat imports.