ITADCs to emerge as one-stop growth hubs for Textile Entrepreneurs: Giriraj Singh (See 'Corp Brief') NMCG's focus on Nature Based Solutions: Initiation of two pilot projects and training programs on NbS (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - For purposes of Sec 57 of Trade Marks Act, foreign proprietor may succeed in rectification by proving that its mark had acquired actionable recognition, even without formal commercial launch or direct sales: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Insurance Division, DFS, secures 2nd Rank in Group A Category Grievance Redressal Assessment (See 'Corp Brief') Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife reviews progress on Key Conservation Initiatives (See 'Corp Brief') BharatNet-enabled integrated phygital service delivery model secures global honour (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Demand notice in Form B under Rule 7(1) of Personal Guarantor Rules is only procedural requirement prior to filing and does not amount to invocation of guarantee: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Taliban minister discuss agricultural ties (See 'Corp Brief') Union Ministry Launches Integrated Training for Primary Healthcare Teams (See 'Corp Brief') Advancing Women's Leadership at Grassroots, held as part of BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in Kochi (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Borrowers who fail to timely invoke MSME framework are precluded from seeking its protection at belated stage after SARFAESI proceedings have commenced: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Bhubaneswar Declaration charts roadmap to transform Tribal Research Institutes into centres of excellence (See 'Corp Brief') TEC signs MoU with BECIL to strengthen Telecom and Broadcasting Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') NLDSL and Punjab sign MoU to strengthen Digital Logistics Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - OP entered into anti-competitive agreements & abused its dominant position by imposing unfair & restrictive conditions on participants in its beauty pageant, in contravention of Sections 3 & 4 - D-G to probe matter: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Kamarajar Port becomes India's Second Major Port with 18-Metre Draft Capability (See 'Corp Brief') Large-Scale Infrastructure Expansion opens up Opportunities for Budding Engineers (See 'Corp Brief') CCI okays merger of 51 Malabar Group's companies into Malabar Gold and Diamonds Ltd (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Delayed creation of security cannot be treated as transaction in normal course of business: NCLAT (See 'Legal Desk') CCI approves acquisition of equity in Sorting Hat Technologies and merger into upGrad Education (See 'Corp Brief') Atal Innovation Mission Strengthens Eastern India Innovation Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Giriraj Singh to inaugurate 'Indie Haat 2026' (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Rent Tribunal lacks jurisdiction in cases involving entities undergoing CIRP, per Sections 60(5)(c) & 238 of IBC, which confer exclusive jurisdiction upon the Adjudicating Authority in CIRP matters: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Labour Ministry translates objectives of Labour Codes to provide timely relief to workers (See 'Corp Brief') Trade Marks - Mark KREOFLAT is distinctively similar to existing mark of PANKREOFLAT where former copies essential & distinctive features of latter, thereby making the former visually, phonetically & deceptively similar: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CAQM reports 62 air pollution violations across NCR in 17 days; proposes closure of four units (See 'Corp Brief') Utsav & Chintan Shivir 2026 to focus on institutional reforms for a technology-driven, and citizen-centric legal ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') Sukesh Chandrashekhar con saga - co-accused gets bail - stringent conditions of Section 45 of PMLA can be relaxed for women, more so considering extraordinary circumstances: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Govt raises onion procurement price by 13% to Rs.2,125 per quintal (See 'Corp Brief') India's last 12 years have been a progression from shortages to building Viksit Bharat: RM (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Writ jurisdiction under Article 226 should ordinarily not be exercised where efficacious alternative remedy exists, particularly in matters arising under the SARFAESI Act: HC (See 'Legal Desk') India's youth will power AI, robotics with Made in India chips: PM (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - Allegations relating to use of private vehicles without commercial permits, non-compliance with Motor Vehicles Act, opaque GST & STA tax practices, & related issues fall outside scope of Competition Act: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Tech Innovation and disruption in Construction Industry (See 'CORP EINSICHT')

Copper Quality Control Order: A step towards Atma Nirbharta

Published: Dec 07, 2024

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, DEC 07, 2024: TO strengthen the quality control eco-system for non-ferrous metals sector (including Copper) in the country, the Ministry of Mines notified the Copper (Quality Control) Order on 31 st August, 2023, along with Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys and Nickel. Initially the QCOs including Copper QCO were to come into force after three months from the date of its notification i.e. 30.11.2023.

Thereafter, basis the requests received from industry stakeholders including user sector industry and taking into account the supply situation, this order was extended vide notification dated 3 rd November, 2023 by six months (i.e.1.6.2024) and subsequently, by another six months vide notification dated 3 rd May, 2024 i.e. 1.12.2024. The Ministry has held several interactions with concerned stakeholders on regular basis through series of meeting(s) with industry bodies and user sector industries during the month of October, 2023; January, 2024; May, 2024; September, 2024; and October, 2024. Secretary (Mines) held a meeting with DG BIS on 17.1.2024 in which besides BIS & Ministry officials, industry representatives also attended. Thus, a sufficient period of 15 months, from 31 st August, 2023, onwards was allowed to the domestic and foreign suppliers of Copper cathodes to obtain the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification.

In FY 2023-24, India imported about 363 Thousand Tonnes (THT) of refined copper cathode (HS Code: 740311), valued at Rs. 24,552 crore. Japan accounts for about 2/3 rd (67%) of the refined copper imports. In quantity terms, about 69% of India's refined copper imports come from Japan. Tanzania is India's second important source of refined copper, contributing about 18% of the imports; followed by Mozambique with a share of about 5%.

M/s Adani's Kutch Copper Refinery has since come into production. However, as per company officials, ramp-up to full capacity will require some more time (about Feb-March 2025). Once achieved, India will be self-sufficient in refined copper, and will not have to rely on imports. Till that time, some amount of import of refined copper will take place.

As of now, 7 applications from Japanese smelters have been received for BIS certification, of which one smelter (Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd.) has already been granted license. As per information received from BIS, two more licenses will be granted by next week.

Presently, four domestic suppliers namely, Adani's Kutch Copper Ltd, Hindalco Industries Ltd, Gujarat Victory Forgings Pvt Ltd & Vedanta Ltd and four foreign suppliers, one each from Japan and Austria, and two from Malaysia have been certified by BIS to supply copper cathode to Indian market. Thus, with 4 domestic BIS certified suppliers & 4 foreign BIS certified suppliers and another two certifications by mid of Dec, 2024, no serious supply side constraint is envisaged.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES