Centre Tightens Quality Norms for Aluminium Utensils, Sets April 2027 Deadline for Beverage Cans

New Delhi, Oct 15 : The Central Government has made quality certification mandatory for wrought aluminium utensils with immediate effect and fixed April 1, 2027, as the deadline for aluminium beverage cans to comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, while allowing staggered compliance timelines for small and micro enterprises.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has notified the Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages (Quality Control) Second Order, 2026, replacing an earlier order issued this year.

The revised regulations, notified on October 13, require wrought aluminium utensils to conform to Indian Standard IS 1660:2024 and aluminium beverage cans to comply with IS 14407:2023. Products covered under the order must carry the prescribed BIS Standard Mark under a valid licence.

The certification requirement for wrought aluminium utensils has come into force immediately for all categories of manufacturers. However, beverage can producers have been given additional time to comply with the standards.

Large and other manufacturers, excluding small and micro enterprises, must meet the beverage can standards by April 1, 2027. Small enterprises have been given until July 1, 2027, while micro enterprises must comply by October 1, 2027.

Issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, following consultation with the BIS, the order has been introduced in the public interest.

The revised framework also provides relief to eligible manufacturers and importers holding inventories produced or imported before the applicable compliance deadline. They may continue to sell, display or offer such existing stock for sale for six months after the relevant implementation date, subject to submitting a declaration certified by a chartered accountant to the BIS.

To qualify for this relaxation, manufacturers must either possess BIS certification or have applied for it.

Products manufactured domestically for export have been exempted from the order. Imported containers already filled with solid, liquid or gaseous materials have also been excluded from its scope.

The government has separately permitted manufacturers of cookware, utensils and beverage cans to import up to 200 articles annually for research and development purposes. Such articles cannot be sold commercially and must be disposed of as scrap. Manufacturers availing themselves of this exemption are required to maintain year-wise records of imported articles and submit them to the Central Government.

The notification further stipulates that the latest versions of the relevant Indian Standards, including subsequent amendments notified by the BIS, will apply from the dates on which the amendments are notified.

The BIS will act as the certification and enforcement authority, with violations attracting penalties under the provisions of the BIS Act, 2016.

The order, issued by DPIIT Joint Secretary Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.