Centre defers QCO on textile machinery to 2026

The ministry of heavy industries, Govt of India, has extended the implementation of the Quality Control Order (QCO) on textile machinery to Sept 2026. The QCO was earlier scheduled to be enforced from August 2025, but various industry stakeholders, including textile manufacturers, had raised concerns. On August 28, 2024, the ministry had issued the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order 2024, making the QCO mandatory for weaving and embroidery machines, including their assemblies and sub-assemblies. The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), under the leadership of its immediate past President Vijay Mevawala, had made several representations to the Centre. "This will benefit the industry, and the growth cycle will continue in the textile sector in the region. We thank the govt for considering trade and industry's viewpoint," said Mevawala. SGCCI president Nikhil Madrasi added, "This decision enables Indian manufacturers to produce high-speed weaving and embroidery machinery on par with ASFI FORTNIGHTLY BULLETIN, JUNE – PART 1, 2025 8
imported ones, furthering the ‘Make in India' vision. "Recently, SGCCI vice-president Ashok Jirawala, former president Ashish Gujarati and other industrial bodies met Union minister for heavy industries HD Kumaraswamy in New Delhi to urge deferment of the QCO. They argued that Surat, the country's largest MMF textile hub, annually imports 2,500 to 4,000 high-speed weaving and embroidery machines, many of which are not yet made domestically.Given that MMF continues to dominate textile investments particularly in waterjet, airjet, and rapier machines the industry had sought time until domestic manufacturing capacity matched import quality. The Centre's latest decision comes as a major relief for the sector.