Quality Awareness Campaign

14.1

The Central Government aims to encourage manufacturers and exporters attain internationally accepted standards of quality for their products. The Central Government will extend support and assistance to trade and industry to launch a nationwide programme on quality awareness and to promote the concept of total quality management.

State-Level Programmes

14.2

The Central Government will encourage and assist State Governments in launching similar programmes in their respective States, particularly for the small scale and handicraft sectors.

Test Houses

14.3

The Central Government will assist in the modernisation and upgradation of test houses and laboratories in order to bring them at par with international standards.

Rewards And Benefits

14.4

Due recognition will be given to manufacturers/ processors who have acquired ISO 9000 (series) or IS/ISO 9000 (series) or ISO 14000(series) or HACCP or WHO-GMP or SEI CMM level 2 and above accredition/certification. Similarly, exporter exporting products with quality trademarks shall be recognised. A list of agencies authorised to issue such certificates is given in Appendix–32B of Handbook (Vol.1). All such manufacturers/ processors will also be eligible for green card as given in paragraph 4.23. The export of such products which are recognised as branded by an Inter-Ministerial Committee shall not be subject to any value cap for the purpose of DEPB as prescribed in Appendix- 28A of Handbook (Vol.1).

Disputes

14.5

The Regional Sub-Committee on Quality Complaints (RSCQC) set up at the Regional Offices of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade shall investigate quality complaints received from foreign buyers. The guidelines for settlement of quality complaints, in particular, and such other complaints, in general, is given in Appendix 50 of Handbook (Vol.1).

14.6

If it comes to the notice of the Director General of Foreign Trade or he has reason to believe that an export or import has been made in a manner gravely prejudicial

(i)

to the trade relations of India with any foreign country;

(ii)

to the interest of other persons engaged in exports or imports;

(iii)

has brought disrepute to the credit or the goods of the country;

The Director General Foreign Trade may take action against the exporter or importer concerned in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Rules and Orders made thereunder and this Policy.

Brand Promotion

14.7

With the objective of promoting exports of branded products, a Committee shall be constituted for identification of such products and upon recognition of such brands by the Committee, the benefits of paragraph 14.4 shall become available for exports of such brands.

Numbering System

14.8

It is the endeavor of the Central Govt. to enhance export competitiveness of Indian products and to promote compliance with prevalent international best practices. The National IT Task Force has recommended adoption of Bar Coding for all Indian Products within five years.

Bar Coding, using international Symbologies/Numbering Systems, would enable timely and accurate capture of product information and its communication across the supply chain ahead of the physical product flow. This, in turn, would result in wide ranging benefits, including lowering of inventory costs, lower overall supply chain costs and hence reduced costs for Indian products, increasing efficiency of Indian industry and adherence to stringent quality assurance norms through product traceability.

Bar Coding For Export Of Retail Products.

14.9

With the ultimate objective of facilitating adoption of bar coding for all products using International Symbologies/ Numbering Systems, all exports of finished and packaged items meant for retail sale shall incorporate bar codes following International Symbologies/Numbering Systems from a date to be notified by DGFT.

Bar Coding For Export Of Products At Carton/ Consignment Level.

14.10

In addition to the above, exports at carton/consignment levels in the sectors of readymade garments, engineering products, food products, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, sports goods, plastic goods and handicrafts shall adopt bar coding using International Symbologies/Numbering Systems.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade would issue a separate notification specifying the export items for each of these sectors with their dates of implementation.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade shall consult exporters in this regard from the implementation perspective.