AC and Refrigeration Industry Get Temporary Relief from Copper QCO

Ψ  Exemption Applies to Inner Grooved Copper Tubes conforming to IS 10773:2025, intended for use in Air-conditioners and Refrigeration Equipment for Five Months

·         The Government has issued the Copper Products (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2026 [S.O. 3503(E)], amending the Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

·         The amendment came into force on 30 June 2026, the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

·         The Order provides a temporary exemption up to 30 November 2026 for specified imported copper products used in manufacturing air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment in India.

·         The exemption applies to Inner Grooved Copper Tubes conforming to IS 10773:2025, intended for use in air-conditioners and refrigeration equipment.

·         Eligible manufacturers may import these copper tubes without QCO applicability, subject to a quantitative limit.

·         The import quantity eligible for exemption cannot exceed 50% of the average quantity imported during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26.

·         Manufacturers are required to maintain month-wise records of such imports.

·         These records must be submitted to the Central Government/concerned authorities on the manufacturer's letterhead and signed by an authorised signatory.

·         The amendment replaces the third proviso of Paragraph 2 of the principal Order.

·         The principal Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 was originally notified on 25 April 2024 and was previously amended on 19 February 2025.

 

[DPIIT Order S.O. 3503(E) dated 30 June, 2026]

S.O. 3503(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 16 read with sub-section (3) of section 25 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016), the Central Government, is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest and after consulting the Bureau, hereby makes the following Order further to amend the Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, namely:-

1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This Order may be called the Copper Products (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2026.

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

2. In the Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, in paragraph 2, for third proviso, the following shall be substituted, namely: -

“Provided also that this order shall not apply from commencement of the Copper Products (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2026 for a period up to the 30th November, 2026 to goods or articles imported by a manufacturer for the purpose of manufacturing equipment or product or sub-assemblies or component for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration in India as per the following TABLE, upto the volume of goods or articles specified under columns (2) of the following Table, namely:-

TABLE

Goods or Articles.

Period: June 2026 to November 2026.

(1)

(2)

Inner Grooved Copper Tubes falling under IS 10773:2025 intended for use in Air conditioner and refrigeration equipment.

Not exceeding 50 per cent of the average quantity of goods or articles imported during the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26.

Note:- The manufacturer shall maintain month-wise record of such goods or articles and furnish the same to Government authorities concerned in its letter head signed by its authorized signatory to the Central Government.".

 [F. No. P-29026/8/2023-LEI]