DPIIT issues guidelines for alternative quality certification pathway for toys, AC, PPE makers

DPIIT has issued guidelines to operationalise an alternative quality certification pathway for manufacturers of toys, personal protective equipment, air conditioners and compressors, according to reports published on June 30.

The new route sits under the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026, and is intended to give companies a compliance option alongside the existing Bureau of Indian Standards certification system.

What changed

The move is the latest step in India’s broader push to tighten quality-control requirements across selected product categories while also creating a clearer route for firms to obtain certification.

The guidelines are meant to explain how the alternative pathway will work in practice. However, the full operational text was not available in the material reviewed, so some details on eligibility, documentation and timelines remain unclear.

Why it matters

The policy affects sectors where quality and safety scrutiny is high, including toys, PPE and cooling equipment. For manufacturers, the practical question is whether the new route will reduce delays and administrative friction, or create a second layer of compliance.

That concern was raised before the rollout. On June 27, trade-policy group GTRI urged DPIIT to publish detailed, clear and time-bound rules for the new regime, warning that weak implementation could create fresh compliance hurdles.

Chronology

A June 27 report first flagged industry concern about the lack of operational detail. Economic Times then reported on June 29 UTC that DPIIT had issued the guidelines, confirming the government had moved to implement the alternative pathway.

The development is relevant to manufacturers of toys, PPE, air conditioners and compressors, as well as regulators overseeing BIS-linked standards.

What to watch next

The key follow-up is the full text of the guidelines or any formal government note that sets out eligibility rules, approval steps and documentation requirements.

Industry reaction will also be important, especially whether the new system speeds up certification or introduces new bottlenecks in practice.