Govt. mandates quality standards for solar cables, cast iron

To foster local production of solar cables and cast iron products and mitigate the inflow of subpar imports, the government has mandated quality standards that must be maintained.

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In order to promote the domestic manufacturing of solar cables and cast iron products and to limit the entry of low-quality imports, the government has enforced mandatory quality regulations for these items.

Products falling under the scope of the 2023 Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, as well as the Cast Iron Products (Quality Control) Order, are prohibited from production, sale, trade, import, and stocking unless they possess the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification.

This directive encompasses electrical cables intended for photovoltaic systems, suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, featuring robust mechanical properties to withstand extreme weather conditions. Fire-resistant cables are purpose-built to endure elevated temperatures for a specified duration during direct exposure to fire.

These cables find utility in diverse settings such as nuclear power plants, airports, metro railways, refineries, tall structures, shopping complexes, and cinemas. The implementation of these orders will take effect six months from the date of this notification’s publication, according to the statement by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Till now, the products mentioned were not subject to BIS certification regulations. Nevertheless, failure to adhere to the provisions stipulated in the BIS Act could result in penalties, including a potential prison term of up to two years or a fine amounting to at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence.