The Central Government has granted a time-bound Transitional Import Exemption from mandatory compliance with selected Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for imports of 26 categories of goods, provided specific conditions relating to purchase orders and import documentation are met.

The exemption has been notified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through its Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, in exercise of powers under Section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, after consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

What the Exemption Covers?

Under the order dated February 12, 2026, the government has exempted goods or articles that satisfy both of the following conditions:

• The purchase order for such goods was placed before the date of implementation of the relevant Quality Control Order; and
• The Bill of Lading and Bill of Entry for the goods are dated on or before 180 days from the date on which the respective QCO came into force.

This exemption applies to 26 specified Quality Control Orders covering a wide range of industrial and consumer products.

Major Product Categories Included?

Among the prominent product groups covered by the exemption are:

• Aluminium and aluminium alloy products
• Electrical appliances for commercial dispensing and vending
• Flashlights and hinges
• Electric fence energizers
• Air coolers and air filters
• Electrical appliances for domestic clothes washing
• Electrical appliances for skin or hair care
• Electrical appliances for domestic water heating
• Plywood and wooden flush door shutters
• Wood-based boards and resin-treated compressed wood laminates
• Telescopic ball bearing drawer slides
• Copper products
• Self-contained drinking water coolers
• V-belts
• Water meters and accessories
• Electrical kitchen appliances and electric fans
• Gypsum-based building materials
• Asbestos or fibre cement-based products
• Footwear made from leather and other materials
• Footwear made from rubber and polymeric materials and their components
• Electrical accessories
• Laboratory glassware
• Bottled water dispensers

Each of these categories has its own date of notification and implementation as specified in the government’s detailed table.

Conditions for Importers

The exemption is not automatic. Importers must comply with a documentation requirement within seven days of clearance of the consignment, the importer must submit to BIS, on its official letterhead and duly signed by an authorised signatory, copies of Purchase Order, Bill of Lading, Bill of Entry and Supporting documents.

Failure to comply with this condition could render the exemption inapplicable.

Immediate Effect

The notification comes into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, making the relief immediately available to eligible importers.

Notification Details

Notification No. P-29014/188/2025-LEI

Date: 12/02/2026