Handicraft and GI Toys exempted from Quality Control Order

Union Government has exempted Handicraft and Geographical Indications (GI) toys from the Quality Control Order. The development comes after the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPI) released the Toys (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2020, on Saturday where it mentions the exemption.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has devised a comprehensive action plan to boost production and sale of indigenous toys across the country.

The order exempts goods manufactured and sold by artisans registered with "Development Commissioner' (Handicrafts), from use of 'Standard Mark under license from Bureau of Indian Standards, as per Scheme1 of Schedule-II of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

The Amendment Order 2020 also exempts products registered as 'Geographical Indications' from following 'Indian Toy Standards' and compulsory use of Standard Mark licence from Bureau as per Scheme 1 of Schedule-II of BIS (CA) Regulations, 2018.

The Gazette notification issued by the department says that "nothing in this Order shall apply to goods or articles manufactured and sold by Registered proprietor and Authorised user of a product registered as Geographical Indication by the Registrar of Geographical Indications, Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM)."

Quality control order was issued by the Department for standardization and quality adherence of Toys and the order will come into effect from January 1, 2021. This order aims to bring forward the synergized efforts of the centre, states and the stakeholders to promote 'Team up for toys' vision keeping quality standards of the indigenous toys as the priority.