180 Day Transition Shipment Protected in Furniture QCO

·         The Government of India has issued the Furniture (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2026 under Section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 to amend the Furniture (Quality Control) Order, 2025.

·         The amendment came into force on 2 March 2026, the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Key Provisions:

1.    Transitional Relief for Imports

o    The Quality Control Order will not apply to imported furniture consignments where the Bill of Lading was issued before the implementation date of the order.

2.    180-Day Window for Customs Clearance

o    Such consignments will remain exempt if the Bill of Entry is filed within 180 days from the implementation date of the order.

3.    Exemption for Pre-Placed Purchase Orders

o    Imports will also be exempt if the purchase order was placed before the implementation date, provided the Bill of Lading and Bill of Entry are dated within 180 days from the order’s commencement.

4.    Documentation Requirement

o    Importers must submit copies of the purchase order, Bill of Lading, Bill of Entry, and supporting documents to the Bureau of Indian Standards within seven days after clearance of the consignment.

5.    Purpose of the Amendment

o    The provision provides transitional relief to importers with shipments already ordered or in transit before the implementation of the QCO.

 

[DPIIT Order S.O. 1125(E) dated 2 March, 2026]

S.O. 1125(E). —In exercise of the powers conferred by section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016), the Central Government, after consulting the Bureau of Indian Standards, is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest, hereby makes the following order further to amend the Furniture (Quality Control) Order, 2025, namely: -

1. Short Title and Commencement: -(1) This order may be called the Furniture (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Furniture (Quality Control) Order, 2025, in paragraph 2, after sixth proviso, the following provisos shall be inserted, namely: -

Provided also that nothing in the order shall apply to imports of such goods or articles in consignment with Bill of Lading having shipped before the date of implementation of the order and Bill of Entry on or before one hundred and eighty days after the date of implementation of the Order:

Provided also that nothing in the order shall apply to imports of goods or articles where the purchase order for such goods or articles were placed before the date of implementation of the order, and the Bill of the Lading and the Bill of Entry in respect of such goods or articles are dated on or before one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the said order came into force and the importer shall provide the Bureau in its letter head duly signed by its authorised signatory, a copy of the purchase order, the Bill of Lading and Bill of Entry and other supporting documents within seven days of clearance of such consignment”.

[F. No. P-14031/99/2019-CI]