Small and medium enterprises in the stainless steel sector have warned of a sharp rise in imports and urged the government to reintroduce a quality control order to protect domestic capacity. The industry body said cheap and substandard consignments were undermining local manufacturers and pressuring margins. It called for clearer standards and stricter enforcement at ports and customs checkpoints.

Representatives argued that the absence of a quality control order had enabled a flood of products that did not meet Indian specifications and placed compliant units at a disadvantage. They requested laboratory testing of consignments, mandatory certification and visible labelling to differentiate compliant material from inferior imports. The group also appealed for fast track dispute resolution and closer coordination between regulatory agencies.

The trade association outlined potential remedies including targeted duties, safeguard measures and the reintroduction of technical standards specific to stainless steel grades. It recommended capacity building for testing facilities and support for micro, small and medium enterprises to upgrade processes and adopt recognised quality benchmarks. Officials were urged to consult industry stakeholders before finalising any policy changes.

Industry sources highlighted employment risks and supply chain disruption if local players continued to face unfair competition from imports. They noted that adherence to quality norms would also protect downstream users in sectors such as construction and manufacturing and help sustain long-term investment. The association further recommended periodic reviews of import trends to inform timely policy response.

The appeal comes amid broader calls from manufacturing groups for trade remedies that balance consumer interests and domestic industry health. The association requested a clear timeline for the reinstatement of a quality control order and proposed mechanisms to monitor compliance. It asked the government to act swiftly to restore a level playing field for compliant suppliers.