Bengaluru, May 30, 2025: India SME Forum successfully concluded the Bharat Quality Mission Conference today with a unified call for systemic reform in the implementation of Quality Control Orders (QCOs). The event was organized in partnership with Amazon to educate sellers on growth and compliance. The discussion spotlighted urgent measures required including phased QCO implementation to prevent disruption, sector-specific compliance standards, expanded testing infrastructure, and financial mechanisms to ease the burden on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
Themed “Enabling MSMEs for Global Competitiveness”, the event was organized in the wake of growing concerns as narrated by small sellers who have faced escalating challenges due to abrupt implementation of mandatory QCOs since last year like blocked capital and unutilized imported goods. It marked a turning point in industry-regulator dialogue, emphasizing that compliance should be a catalyst—not a constraint—for MSME growth. The conference concluded with the formal submission of a policy recommendations dossier to the Ministries of Consumer Affairs and MSME, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Delivering the keynote address as chief guest, Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, said, “When India rejected substandard goods, manufacturing units began shifting to India – bringing investment, technology, jobs, and confidence. This momentum is key to India becoming the third-largest economy, which requires strong manufacturing and globally competitive MSMEs. QCOs boost quality and exports, and adherence to standards is essential. To this, we are strengthening testing infrastructure across the country with INR 78 crore being invested through BIS. Our aim is to empower MSMEs with the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to move forward.”
T. Lalit Kumar Singh, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT stated, “Objectives of these QCOs and their enforcement are clear: to strengthen India’s quality infrastructure, enhance consumer product safety, prevent the import and sale of substandard products, attract investment, and reduce the risk of accidents caused by faulty or low-quality goods. We are open to receiving recommendations from the industry and are committed to working on them constructively”.
H.J.S Pasricha, Deputy Director General, BIS added, “Global competitiveness hinges on quality and cost efficiency. The government and institutions like BIS are here to SMEs develop a strong quality culture. As the national body for standards, BIS brings together manufacturers, research labs, institutes, and experts through over 400 technical committees across 17 sectors. We look forward to actively engaging with industry to shape the standards benchmarks that define our future.”
Vinod Kumar, President of India SME Forum opined, “We heard MSMEs, regulators, and solution providers agree that abrupt enforcement without capacity-building will paralyze small businesses. From delayed certifications to import bottlenecks and one-size-fits-all standards, the challenges are real. Our recommendations aim to drive a national framework that combines global best practices with local realities, ensuring MSMEs aren’t left behind in India’s pursuit of quality. Ultimately, quality must become a shared journey, not an enforced destination. Aligning with global certifications as endorsed by the Ministry of MSME will make MSMEs globally competitive. We are thankful to Amazon for partnering with us on seller compliance awareness.”
One of the key sessions featured Ramaswami Lakshman, Director of Emerging Markets, FBA at Amazon. “Digitization has the power to level the playing field for MSMEs. At Amazon, we are committed to helping Indian sellers – especially from tier 2 and 3 cities – navigate compliance, improve quality, and reach customers across India and globally. Over 12 million MSMEs have already been digitized through our initiatives. We are proud to initiatives like the Bharat Quality Mission that are essential to shape policy frameworks and can help unlock the full potential of small businesses,” he said.
The conference was attended by over 300 stakeholders including top policymakers, industry leaders, certification authorities, and e-commerce enablers. Built on the momentum of a recent national webinar attended by over 11,000 MSMEs, it featured deep dives into key pain points such as certification delays, testing infrastructure gaps, financial strain from compliance costs, and misalignment with international standards that restrict export competitiveness. With representation from sectors including electronics, food processing, and textiles, the conference established consensus on a roap that blends policy reform with tech-driven capacity building.