India's Ministry of Steel has clarified its June 13, 2025, directive, stating no new Quality Control Orders (QCOs) have been issued since August 2024. This order ensures that intermediate steel products must comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms if they're used in BIS-certified final products.

The move is to standardize quality requirements for all steel products in India, preventing substandard imports from undermining domestic quality. The Ministry explained that non-compliant intermediate materials can lead to deficient finished goods.

This clarification also addresses concerns about the dumping of cheap, low-quality steel into India, a growing issue given global overcapacity. With India's steel consumption rising by more than 12% in the past three years, consistent quality standards are considered important for protecting the domestic industry, including small and medium enterprises.

The Ministry assures that India's steel production capacity of 200 million tons is sufficient for domestic demand, dispelling fears of price increases.