India’s Ministry of Steel is likely to set up an experts’ panel to reconcile the conflict between producers and users of stainless steel over the recently published stainless steel quality control order, a ministry official said on Wednesday, September 7.
The official said that both producers as well as representatives of end-users from capital goods manufacturers and large consumers of stainless steel have been communicating with the ministry, taking completely opposite stances on the quality control order.
Citing an example, the ministry official said that the Process Plant and Machinery Manufacturers’ Association of India (PPMAI) submitted that the stainless steel quality control order making certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandatory for use of all stainless steel products was erroneous since the very standardization process adopted by the BIS was in error.
According to the submission from the PPMAI, no domestic stainless steel producers produce as per the specifications of the BIS and so it would be futile for user industries to seek certification for the stainless steel used in capital goods, the official said.
On the other hand, representing stainless steel producers the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) in support of the quality control order submitted that users’ arguments were not justified as the BIS was fully equipped to certify the quality of steel to be used in line with well developed standards.