“The 10,000-crore metal packaging industry has been left paralysed as the government maintains its silence on its QCO extension request. This decision has been extremely distressing for the metal industry players as it has no channel to procure raw material now,” said MCMA.

According to the association, the industry is dependent on imports for the manufacturing of open ends, peel off end components, and so on. And the industry is unable to import due to the new BIS order. Thus, the industry needs sufficient time to meet the 70,0000 tinplate/tin-free steel tonnes per annum demand. 

“This scarcity would seriously affect the working of various units who are dependent on imports for such components. The situation is going to adversely affect the availability of packaging material for processed food and pharma sectors in particular,” it added.  

In inclusion to other such concerns, MCMA has urged the government to reconsider and re-evaluate its decision and postpone the implementation of the QCO.

It has also requested the ministry of steel to allow the use of ISO certification materials in addition to BIS certified material. And the same has been included in the FSSAI order and also recommended by the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises.