NEW DELHI: The government will impose strict quality norms for solar equipment and components, and allow their sale only if they are registered and approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards – a move that industry executives say can help domestic manufacturers and discourage imports of inferior Chinese gear.
The new norms provide for destruction of equipment that does not have the “Standard Mark” of BIS, according to the renewable energy ministry’s Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017, which was issued on Aug 30. It will come into force one year after its publication in the Official Gazette.
“No person shall by himself or through any person on his behalf manufacture or store for sale, import, sell or distribute Goods which do not conform to the Specified Standard and do not bear the Standard Mark as notified by the Bureau for such Goods from time to time after obtaining registration from the Bureau,” the order said. The order exempts goods manufactured for export from India but lays down stringent conditions for any defect if it is to be used in Indian projects.
Equipment that is found defective or sub-standard “shall be deformed beyond use and disposed of as a scrap by the manufacturer or the representative of overseas manufacturer from liaison office or branch office located in India or by any agency authorised by the manufacturer as its authorised representative in the India... Provided that unclaimed consignment of such Goods shall be deformedand disposed of as scrap by such department or agency as may be authorised by the Appropriate Authority”, it said.
To ensure compliance, authorities can seek information, inspect the premises of the manufacturer or seller, seize goods or collect samples from the market or the factory for testing in a laboratory established or recognised by BIS.
“No manufacturer shall refuse to give any information lawfully demanded from him ... or conceal, destroy, mutilate or deface any book or document relating thereto in his possession or control,” it said.
India’s solar energy sector has expanded rapidly in line with ambitious targets set by the minister for power, coal, renewable energy and mines, Piyush Goyal. Cheap Chinese imports have helped project developers bid aggressively at auctions but local equipment manufacturers have complained that they are being priced out by low-quality Chinese imports. They have also sought anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports.
Industry executives say that the likely imposition of anti-dumping duties and the order on abiding by BIS standards is likely to encourage foreign companies to set up manufacturing units in India, which is one of the world’s biggest markets for solar equipment. The one-year time given for implementation of the latest order is expected to give industry enough time to adjust to the quality and registration rules. ..
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com