Overview

• Piyush Goyal announced India’s openness to mutual benefit and recognition agreements on QCOs with trusted trading partners.
• QCOs, first introduced in 2014, now cover more than 732 products as of October 2024 to curb low-quality imports and boost domestic manufacturing.
• Identical standards and procedures apply to domestic and foreign suppliers, ensuring non-discriminatory treatment in certification.
• Goyal highlighted dialogue with the US, EU and other nations to streamline certification pathways for reliable exporters.
• The QCO framework aligns with India’s strategy to enforce high product standards and protect consumers from substandard goods.