India's Ministry of Steel has postponed the implementation of its June 13 Quality Control Order (QCO) on finished steel imports by four months, following concerns from smaller importers about disruptions to existing shipments.

The QCO requires all imported finished steel to be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to ensure quality. However, after discussions with stakeholders on July 7, the ministry agreed to a temporary relaxation. The revised order also extends BIS requirements to raw materials for steel production, but it clarifies these new rules won't apply to inputs used by overseas steel mills.

The ministry acknowledged the potential for financial losses for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) due to the sudden change.

Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated that the QCO is to ensure fair competition and to prevent substandard steel from entering India.