Domestic Quality Control issues raised in WTO

• India’s quality control orders (QCOs) were flagged as an area of concern by Canada, Japan, the UK and the EU recently as non-compliant with Agreement on Technical Barriers.
• India has recently stepped up imposition of QCOs in order to ensure that cheap imports from China do not flood the Indian market.
• Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
  • It provides regulations on technical standards including packaging, labeling requirements, and often environmental quality standards to be kept during the trade.
  • The WTO prescribes that members shall not adopt unnecessary obstacles to international trade while following these measures.
  • It harmonized the international standards of trade, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.
• About QCOs
  • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), is the certifying authority for the QCOs.
  • The main aim of the QCO is to control the import of sub-quality and cheaper items and to ensure that customers get quality products.
  • They are applicable for International as well as domestic products.
• As per India, all orders are completely in line with WTO norms and all countries have standards to ensure the safety of goods that are consumed.
  • Each country can have its separate standards, despite international norms.

About World Trade Organisation (WTO)

• It is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
• It covers over 98% of world trade.
• Ministerial conferences assemble every 2 years.
• HQ- Geneva, Switzerland
• General Council is the top day-to-day decision-making body.