The Indian ministry of textiles recently announced two quality control orders (QCOs) for six medical textile items and 20 agro-textile items.

The QCOs shall come into force on April 1, 2024, for general domestic and foreign manufacturers.

Medical textiles products include sanitary napkins, shoe covers, dental bib/napkins, disposable baby diapers, reusable sanitary pad, period panties, bed sheets and pillow covers.

The ministry has exempted self-help groups from the medical textile QCOs to foster small-scale production of such products. For micro and small industries engaged in manufacturing some of these products, the QCOs shall come into force on October 1 next year, offering them time to comply with QCO conformity, an official release said.

Agro-textile QCOs aim to enhance the quality and performance of the agro-textile products, ensuring farmers access reliable and durable solutions.

It encompasses a wide range of products, including polypropylene spun bonded non-woven crop cover and fruit skirting bags; insect nets; woven ground covers; high-density polyethylene (HDPE) woven beds for vermiculture; sapling bags; nylon-knitted seamless gloves for tobacco harvesters; and windshield, harvest and fencing nets.

QCOs are essential for supporting the growth of the technical textiles sector.

Two QCOs issued in the first phase for 19 geo-textile items and 12 protective textile items will come into effect from October 7 this year.

In the third phase, around 30 more technical textiles items in the areas of building textiles, industrial textiles, ropes and cordages, may be considered for QCO issuance, the release added.