Government Strengthens Measures Against Substandard Imports

02 Apr 2025 CW Team

The Government of India has intensified efforts to curb the entry of substandard imports to safeguard domestic industries and consumers. Through strict enforcement of trade regulations and quality control measures, authorities are working to mitigate the impact of cheaper, non-compliant imports on Indian markets.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Department of Commerce, conducts anti-dumping, safeguard, and countervailing duty investigations under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. These investigations, initiated based on petitions from the domestic industry, assess inputs from importers, exporters, and stakeholders before recommending actions to the Ministry of Finance.

In FY 2024-25 (up to February 2025), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs booked 206 cases of substandard imports violating IPR, BIS, and FSSAI norms, amounting to Rs 2.06 billion under the Customs Act, 1962. CBIC authorities maintain strict vigilance and risk-based examination of imports to prevent the entry of non-compliant goods.

Additionally, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, regulate the import of food products, requiring FSSAI clearance based on document scrutiny, visual inspection, sampling, and testing.

India has a robust legal framework to ensure imported goods comply with domestic quality, environmental, and safety standards. BIS standards apply equally to domestic and imported products, while plant-based, animal-based, and food imports must meet sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements. These measures reinforce India's commitment to protecting domestic producers, consumers, and national interests.

(PIB)

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