Copper Products (Quality Control) Amendment Order 2026: Complete Compliance Guide for Importers and Manufacturers

On 30th June 2026, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), notified the Copper Products (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2026. This order provides temporary, conditional relief to manufacturers of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (AC&R) equipment who import a specific category of copper tubes. This guide breaks down the notification in simple terms and explains exactly what businesses need to know and do.

The Regulatory Framework

In India, quality control of copper products is governed under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (Act No. 11 of 2016). Under Section 16, read with Section 25(3) of this Act, the Central Government has the power to make orders mandating compliance with Indian Standards (IS) for specific products, and to amend such orders after consulting the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), if it is necessary or expedient in the public interest.

Using this power, the government had earlier issued the Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, published on 25th April 2024. This order made it mandatory for certain copper products sold or used in India to conform to specified Indian Standards and carry the BIS quality mark. It was first amended on 19th February 2025, and now receives its second amendment through this June 2026 notification.

This amendment specifically modifies Paragraph 2 of the 2024 Order by substituting the third proviso with a new provision that creates a defined, time-bound exemption for a particular category of importers.

What Has Changed?

Before this amendment, the Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 required copper products, including copper tubes, to conform to the specified Indian Standard before they could be manufactured, imported, or sold in India, with certain existing provisos already in place.

• Provision amended: The third proviso to Paragraph 2 of the Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 has been substituted (replaced) with a new proviso; this is the exact legal change made by the 2026 amendment.
• New exemption introduced: A temporary, conditional exemption has been added, stating that the parent Order (which normally requires BIS quality-control compliance) will not apply to certain imports made by AC and refrigeration manufacturers, for a defined period and up to a defined quantity.
• Exempted product specified: The exemption applies only to Inner Grooved Copper Tubes falling under IS 10773:2025, intended specifically for use in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. No other copper product is covered.
• Exemption period fixed: The relief is valid only from 30th June 2026 (commencement of this amendment) until 30th November 2026, a defined 5-month window, not a permanent change.
• Quantity cap introduced: Imports under this exemption are capped at not more than 50% of the average quantity of such goods imported during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26. This is a brand-new numerical limit that didn't exist before.
• New compliance obligation added: In exchange for this relief, manufacturers must now maintain month-wise records of the goods imported under the exemption, a fresh documentation requirement introduced by this amendment.
• New reporting obligation added: Manufacturers must submit these month-wise records to the concerned Central Government authorities on their official letterhead, signed by an authorized signatory. This reporting mechanism is entirely new.

What has NOT changed?

The core Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, including its general BIS quality-control mandate for copper products, remains fully in force for all other products and situations. Only this one narrow proviso, for this one product category, for this one-time window, has been modified.

The Exempted Product and Quantity Limit

Mandatory Record-Keeping Condition

This relief is not unconditional. The manufacturer availing this exemption must:

• Maintain a month-wise record of the quantity of such goods or articles imported.
• Submit this record to the concerned Central Government authorities.
• The submission must be made on the manufacturer's official letterhead, signed by an authorized signatory.

Implementation Timeline/Norms

This amendment has a clearly defined, short-window structure; it is not an open-ended relaxation.

The order comes into force immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, meaning manufacturers can start relying on this exemption from 30th June 2026 itself. However, businesses must plan carefully because the relief automatically expires on 30th November 2026, after which the standard BIS quality-control requirements will apply in full, with no grace period mentioned for the transition back.

Why This Was Implemented?

This is a targeted, temporary industry-support measure rather than a permanent policy shift. The likely reasoning behind it includes:

• Supply chain transition support: IS 10773:2025 is a relatively new Indian Standard. Domestic manufacturing and BIS-certified supply of Inner Grooved Copper Tubes meeting this exact standard may not yet be sufficient to meet full industry demand, especially for AC and refrigeration equipment manufacturers who depend on continuous input supply.
• Preventing production disruption: AC and refrigeration manufacturing is a large, seasonal, demand-sensitive industry in India. A sudden, strict compliance requirement without transition time could disrupt production lines and cause equipment shortages.
• Controlled, not unlimited, relief: By capping the exemption at 50% of average past import volumes, the government ensures manufacturers get breathing room without a complete bypass of quality standards; domestic and BIS-compliant supply is still expected to cover the other half.
• Time-bound nature: Fixing the exemption to end on 30th November 2026 signals the government's intent that this is a short transition period, giving industry a clear deadline to build compliant sourcing, not an indefinite exemption.
• Accountability through record-keeping: The mandatory month-wise reporting requirement ensures the exemption isn't misused, keeping the government informed of exactly how much volume is being imported under this relaxed provision.

Impact on Businesses

AC and refrigeration equipment manufacturers get temporary relief. Only within the designated window and quantity cap may companies that use Inner Grooved Copper Tubes to make air conditioners, refrigerators, or similar components import these tubes without fully complying with BIS certification requirements. 

• Only Inner Grooved Copper Tubes under IS 10773:2025 are covered. Other copper products remain fully subject to the existing Copper Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 and its BIS compliance requirements.
• Import volume is strictly capped at 50%- Manufacturers cannot import unlimited quantities under this exemption; only up to half of their FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 average import volume qualifies.
• Historical import data becomes critical- businesses need accurate records of their import volumes for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, since the exemption limit is directly calculated from this average.
• New compliance obligation created alongside the relief- while the quality-control requirement is relaxed, a new mandatory month-wise reporting obligation is introduced, adding a documentation task even as a substantive requirement is eased.
• Non-compliant manufacturers of other copper products remain unaffected by this relief. Businesses outside the AC and refrigeration manufacturing chain, or those not using this specific tube category, see no change in their existing BIS obligations.

How Businesses Will Achieve Compliance?

Step 1: Confirm Product and Standard Applicability

Verify whether the copper tubes you import specifically fall under IS 10773:2025 and are genuinely intended for use in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment manufacturing. The exemption applies only to this precise category.

Step 2: Calculate Your Eligible Import Volume

Pull your import records for FY 2024–25 and FY 2025–26, calculate the average annual import quantity of Inner Grooved Copper Tubes, and determine the 50% cap that applies to you under this exemption for the June–November 2026 window.

Step 3: Plan Sourcing for the Remaining 50%

Since only half of your average import volume is exempted, arrange for the balance requirement to be met either through domestic BIS-certified suppliers or through imports that already meet full BIS quality-control requirements.

Step 4: Set Up Month-Wise Import Tracking

Establish an internal system (spreadsheet, ERP module, or dedicated register) to record the quantity of Inner Grooved Copper Tubes imported each month during the exemption period. Hence, this data is readily available for reporting.

Step 5: Prepare and Submit Government Reports

Ensure the month-wise record is compiled on the manufacturer's official letterhead, signed by an authorized signatory, and submitted to the relevant Central Government authority as required by the order.

Step 6: Build a Compliance Roadmap for December 2026 Onward

Since the exemption ends on 30th November 2026, use the relief period to accelerate vendor certification, domestic sourcing tie-ups, or full BIS compliance processes so that your supply chain is fully compliant before the deadline.

Compliance Checklist Table

Benefits for Businesses

Continuity of production- AC and refrigeration manufacturers avoid sudden supply disruption while transitioning to full compliance with IS 10773:2025.

• Time to build compliant supply chains: The five-month window gives businesses breathing room to onboard BIS-certified domestic or import suppliers without rushing.
• Predictable, quantified relief: a clear 50% cap based on actual historical data removes ambiguity about how much volume qualifies for exemption.
• Lower risk of manufacturing delays: Businesses can continue meeting AC and refrigeration equipment demand during peak seasons without last-minute sourcing scrambles.
• Structured accountability builds trust with regulators: the month-wise reporting requirement, while an added task, demonstrates transparency and can support smoother future dealings with BIS and government authorities.
• A clear deadline aids planning: knowing the exemption ends precisely on 30th November 2026 allows businesses to set firm internal deadlines for full compliance transition.

Right Decision or Additional Burden?

The case for "right decision": This amendment reflects a balanced, pragmatic approach by the government. Rather than either enforcing an abrupt, full compliance mandate or granting an open-ended exemption, it offers capped, time-bound, and monitored relief. The 50% volume limit ensures the exemption doesn't undermine the overall objective of quality control, while still preventing a supply shock to the AC and refrigeration manufacturing sector.

The case for "additional burden": The new month-wise reporting requirement, though administratively light, is still a new compliance task that didn't exist before. Manufacturers must also do the extra work of calculating historical average import volumes accurately, and they face a hard deadline to become fully compliant by December 2026, which could be tight if BIS-certified alternatives aren't readily available in the market.

The balanced view: This amendment is best understood as industry-supportive and reasonably designed, not a burden. It solves a real transition problem for a specific manufacturing sector while keeping the relief limited, measurable, and accountable through documentation. The businesses that benefit most will be those that use this window proactively to build long-term compliant sourcing, rather than treating it as extended relief that removes urgency.

Business Opportunities Created

BIS certification consulting services for copper tube manufacturers and importers seeking to meet IS 10773:2025 requirements before the exemption ends.

• Domestic manufacturing and supply opportunities for Indian producers of Inner Grooved Copper Tubes who can position themselves as compliant, reliable alternatives to imports.
• Import compliance and documentation support services help manufacturers calculate accurate historical volumes and prepare the required government reports.
• Vendor qualification and audit services for AC and refrigeration companies needing to fast-track BIS-compliant supplier onboarding within the five-month window.
• Trade compliance software solutions that can help track month-wise import volumes automatically against the 50% cap and generate ready-to-submit reports.
• Advisory services for post-exemption transition planning, helping businesses build a sustainable, fully compliant supply chain strategy before December 2026.

Corpseed's Core Message

An excellent illustration of deliberate, short-term regulatory relaxation is the Copper Products (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2026. It acknowledges that industry occasionally requires a defined runway to adjust, but it does not eliminate quality control responsibilities. This five-month window is helpful for makers of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment that use Inner Grooved Copper Tubes, but it shouldn't be used as an excuse to put off compliance preparation.

Our advice to manufacturers at Corpseed is very clear: make strategic use of this exemption window rather than passively. 

The relief ends firmly on November 30, 2026, and companies that wait until the last minute run the risk of production disruption when the exemption expires. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately calculate your eligible import volume, maintain clean month-by-month records ready for submission, and, above all, begin developing your fully BIS-compliant sourcing strategy now. Consider this order an initial step rather than a long-term fix.