India Withdraws Cotton Bales Quality Control Order Amid Industry Opposition
India’s Ministry of Textiles has decided to revoke the Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Order (QCO), 2023, ending a regulation that faced significant pushback from the local ginning industry. This order, which had not yet been put into practice despite several extensions, was officially rescinded in a notification dated June 9, 2026.
The Cotton Bales QCO was first introduced on February 28, 2023, aiming to make compliance with Indian Standard IS 12171:2019 mandatory for all cotton bales sold within the country. However, it exempted bales meant for export that followed international buyer specifications.
Many small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the ginning sector had raised concerns about the costs and infrastructure needed to meet the prescribed standards for moisture content and contamination levels. These ginning units, often equipped with basic machinery, feared they would not be able to comply without significant investment.
The government had been responding to these industry concerns by extending the implementation deadline multiple times. The latest extension pushed the original deadline of August 27, 2025, to August 27, 2026. Yet, the latest decision to withdraw the QCO has come before it could take effect, providing relief to domestic ginners.
While the withdrawal notification does not provide specific reasons, it mentions that the decision was made in the public interest after discussions with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This marks the end of a regulatory measure that faced ongoing challenges from a crucial segment of the textile industry.
