The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has announced the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026, which is another major step to enhance the quality infrastructure of India and facilitate its industrial growth. The new Order is designed to make the compliance process easier for manufacturers, while maintaining the highest safety and quality of the manufactured products.
With India steadily building its manufacturing capabilities and enticing businesses to come to the country with a gamut of products, ensuring product quality has become a top priority. The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 offers a more flexible and risk-based compliance approach to the industries to support innovation, technological improvements and the resilience of the supply chain, while maintaining consumer protection. Permit will be issued by DPIIT on the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Implementation Committee (IMIC), comprising representatives from DPIIT, BIS, DGFT, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Consumer Affairs.
What is Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026?
DPIIT has come up with the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order 2026 to streamline compliance of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for manufacturers. It provides an alternative compliance mechanism to also enable eligible manufacturers to buy the product from the supplier with a licence under Scheme II of Schedule II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, apart from relying on the manufacturers certified under traditional Scheme I (ISI Mark Scheme).
This flexible sourcing solution should minimize disruptions in the supply chain and maintain product quality and safety.
Why Was the New Order Introduced?
The Government of India has always focussed on creating a robust quality environment with Quality Control Orders in different industry segments. The main objective of QCOs is to ensure that critical products meet Indian Standards and thus safeguard the consumers from substandard products and improve the competitiveness of the Indian manufacturers.
But industries have problems like a small number of sources, lack of availability in the supply chain, and inability to get certified products. The Transition Facilitation Order provides a fair balance for the industry to grow while remaining compliant with regulations, to address these concerns.
Key Features of the Transition Facilitation Order, 2026
The new Order includes several important provisions that benefit manufacturers and strengthen India's industrial ecosystem:
Alternative Compliance Mechanism
Manufacturers can procure supplies from BIS licence holders operating under Scheme II, subject to approval under the new framework. This provides greater flexibility in sourcing materials without compromising product quality.
Risk-Based Approval System
Permissions under the Order will be granted based on several evaluation criteria, including:
- Technical capability of the manufacturer
- Proven compliance history
- Commitment to technological advancement
- Investment in research and product design
- Innovation capabilities
- Efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains
This ensures that only reliable and responsible manufacturers benefit from the alternative compliance route.
Recognition of Consistent Compliance
The Order also rewards manufacturers that have maintained uninterrupted compliance with Quality Control Orders for at least three consecutive years without any defaults. This recognition encourages businesses to maintain high standards of quality and regulatory discipline.
Applications may be submitted for a period of 24 months from the date of commencement of the Order. The Order itself will remain in force for five years, unless extended by the Government. Permissions granted during this period may continue for the duration specified in the approval.
The framework currently applies to the following QCOs:
- Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020
- Personal Protective Equipment – Footwear (Quality Control) Order, 2020
- Air Conditioner and its related Parts, Hermetic Compressor and Temperature Sensing Controls (Quality Control) Order, 2019
- Footwear made from All Rubber and All Polymeric Material and its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024
- Footwear made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024
- Electrical Appliance for Domestic Water Heating (Quality Control) Order, 2025
- Electrical Appliance for Domestic Clothes Washing (Quality Control) Order, 2024
- Hinges (Quality Control) Order, 2025
- Furniture (Quality Control) Order, 2025; and
- Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026.
Benefits for Indian Industry
The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 promises to have a number of long-term benefits for the Indian manufacturers and the economy at large.
The flexible sourcing framework will address the constraints on the supply chain and enable industries to be able to obtain the required components in a more efficient manner. The risk-based compliance mechanism also minimises the red tape and compliance burden without compromising quality assurance.
The Order also promotes investment in technology, innovation, product development and research. Such emphasis on modernization will enhance the efficiency of manufacturing processes and enable Indian industries to be more competitive in the international markets.
In addition, the scheme aligns with the Government's objective of enhancing domestic value chains, decreasing the import dependency and encouraging self-reliance in India's manufacturing focus.
Conclusion
The DPIIT's Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 marks a forward-thinking shift in India's quality regulatory landscape. The Government has developed a flexible compliance framework based on risk, which has been effective in achieving the balance between industrial growth and quality assurance.
It is hoped that the Order will boost domestic manufacturing, foster innovation, enhance resilience of the supply chains and enable India's participation in the global value chains. Meanwhile, it will help strengthen the country's position in ensuring high quality and consumer interests.
The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 is one such effort that will be vital for building a competitive, innovative and globally known industrial ecosystem in India as it keeps transforming.
