India SME Forum calls for QCO implementation upgrades
The India SME Forum, in collaboration with Amazon, concluded the Bharat Quality Mission Conference with a call for systemic improvements in the implementation of Quality Control Orders. Held under the theme 'Enabling MSMEs for Global Competitiveness,' the event focused on the adverse impact of sudden regulatory changes on micro, small, and medium enterprises and presented a set of actionable recommendations to key government bodies.
Recommendations made at the event included phased QCO rollouts, sector-specific compliance norms, stronger testing infrastructure, and financial support mechanisms, Indian Retailer Bureau reported. These were submitted to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of MSME, Bureau of Indian Standards, and DPIIT, the event organisers announced on Facebook.
Concerns raised by MSMEs included blocked capital and unused inventory due to abrupt QCO enforcement since 2023. In response, Nidhi Khare, secretary at the Department of Consumer Affairs, said, 'QCOs boost quality and exports, and adherence to standards is essential… Our aim is to empower MSMEs with the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to move forward.'
With over 300 attendees and follow-up from a webinar reaching 11,000 MSMEs, the conference outlined a path combining regulatory reform and digital tools to strengthen MSME competitiveness across sectors. At the event, Vinod Kumar, president of the India SME Forum, stressed that 'abrupt enforcement without capacity-building will paralyse small businesses.' Kumar also advocated for a national framework that aligns global certification with local realities.
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