Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2023
The Union Ministry of Textiles has introduced Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for six medical- textile products that will come into effect from April 1, 2024.
Medical textiles QCO encompass a range of products vital to healthcare and hygiene. The products covered under this QCO include Sanitary Napkins, Medical textiles -Shoe covers, Medical textiles -Dental bib/Napkins, Disposable baby diaper, Reusable sanitary pad/ sanitarynapkin/ period panties andMedical textiles -Bed sheet and pillow cover
In mass consumption items of Medical textiles like Sanitary Pads and baby diapers, self help groups are exempted from QCO while Micro and Small units are given relaxation for 1 year so as facilitate penetration without affecting availability.
The conformity assessment requirements specified in these QCOs are equally applicable to domestic manufacturers as well as foreign manufacturers who intend to export their products to India.
The Bureau of Indian Standards shall be the certifying and enforcing authority. All Medical Textiles shall bear the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards
Any person, who contravenes the provisions of this Order, shall be punishable in accordance with the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. Products covered under the order are given below:
For the purposes of the Schedule – A and Schedule – B, it is clarified that the latest version of Indian Standards established and published by the Bureau of Indian Standards from time to time in accordance with the provisions of clause (17) of section 2 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016), shall apply from the date of such publication.
