MoS launches BIO-NIVESH to Catalyse Investment and Scale-Up of Biotechnology Innovations (See 'Corp Brief') NTPC Electron Quiz 2026-27 to be held in Mumbai (See 'Corp Brief') SUMAN Roadmap 2030 focuses on 13 High-Focus States to reduce Maternal and Newborn Deaths (See 'Corp Brief') Media Registration Open for SEMICON India 2026 (See 'Corp Brief') CCI directs IDBI Trusteeship, Axis Trustee and SBI CAP Trustee to cease and desist from anti-competitive conduct (See 'Corp Brief') Environment Minister reviews Coordinated Efforts by NCR States to tackle Air Pollution (See 'Corp Brief') CPC - Objection regarding pecuniary jurisdiction cannot be entertained at stage of final arguments when no such objection is raised by defendant at earliest opportunity or before settlement of issues: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Nadda inaugurates Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics (See 'Corp Brief') NIELIT and Intel India launch Agentic AI Skilling Programs (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - IRP has contravened statutory mandate of IBC by omitting to maintain formal minutes of meetings & relying instead on informal email communications & where IRP omits to act strictly as per prior instructions of CoC: IBBI (See 'Legal Desk') BRICS Members reaffirm Commitment for Multilateral Cooperation in Intellectual Property (See 'Corp Brief') Digital India BHASHINI and Kathmandu Univ explore Collaboration in Language AI (See 'Corp Brief') IBCA, ADB sign MoU strengthening collaboration in Landscape Conservation (See 'Corp Brief') EPFO seeks applications from potential beneficiaries (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - For deciding territorial jurisdiction at inception of suit, if plaintiff's pleadings sufficiently allege that defendant has digital presence accessible, suit cannot be summarily thrown out for lack of jurisdiction: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CCI okays acquisition of up to 100% equity of Apollo Fertility & Apollo Specialty by Kids Clinic India (See 'Corp Brief') CCI approves acquisition of Aseem Infra Finance by TPG Nicobar SG (See 'Corp Brief') Ministry of Civil Aviation launches Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations (See 'Corp Brief') CAQM reviews Enforcement Actions (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Definition of 'associate' u/s 79(2)(g) cannot be expanded beyond its statutory text, and procedural irregularities such as absence of forensic audit do not warrant rejection if no actual prejudice is demonstrated: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Wow! 7.8% growth but it also does not reveal many things! (See CORP EINSICHT) India, Germany sign Joint Declaration of Intent on environment conservation (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - If foreign decree from reciprocating territory remains substantially unsatisfied, and judgment debtor and his family exercise pervasive control over multiple business entities, decree holder is entitled to protection of its interest through appropriate security: SC LB (See 'Legal Desk') Advisor to PM reviews Development Initiatives at Belgaria and Karmatand Townships (See 'Corp Brief') Invest in R&D while fostering partnerships to become global enterprises: RM (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Attachment of entire subject property cannot be sustained in absence of material showing direct nexus between property & investors' funds involved in criminal proceedings: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Ministry of Coal Holds Preparatory Meeting for Special Campaign 6.0, Reaffirms Commitment to Cleanliness and Efficiency (See 'Corp Brief') PBPT - Per Section 2(26), initiating officer must establish that benami amount was either converted into another form or integrated into general business assets of beneficial owner beyond demarcation before attaching substitute properties: Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') India must build Future-Ready Workforce for a Global Automotive Industry: Kumaraswamy (See 'Corp Brief') Union Minister to launch fisheries Infrastructure projects worth Rs 36.49 Crore (See 'Corp Brief') Nadda reviews Progress of Rural Health Training Centre, Najafgarh (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - If plaintiff holds registered trademark rights and shows prima facie prior adoption and use, defendant's use of identical mark for identical hospitality & restaurant services is sufficient to justify interim injunctive relief: HC (See 'Legal Desk') 4th Indo-German Environment Forum to be held in New Delhi (See 'Corp Brief') ICAR-IIOR to host Industry Interface to Accelerate Commercialization of Oilseed Technologies (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Arbitral award immune to interference merely because alternative interpretation of facts or contractual terms exists; cannot be quashed where award is plausible, logical & free from patent illegality, perversity, or conflict with public policy: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Manohar Lal directs Fast-track Project Implementation & Strengthening of Swachhata (See 'Corp Brief') MSDE in collaboration with UP Govt organises PM-SETU Industry Conclave in Lucknow (See 'Corp Brief') MoS holds interaction with delegation of Armed Forces HQ Association (See 'Corp Brief') NBA disburses Rs 5.68 Crore in Benefit-Sharing Funds for Biodiversity Conservation (See 'Corp Brief') Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal Leads 4th India-Argentina JTC Meeting (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Sale certificate issued by liquidator under insolvency proceedings in respect of property sold by public auction is not compulsorily registrable: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CBN seizes 66.80 lakh psychotropic tablets in major inter-state pharmaceutical diversion case (See 'Corp Brief') Acquire knowledge, question injustice through constitutional means: RM tells youth (See 'Corp Brief') Empowering mother can enable early identification of disability in child: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') MoS lays Foundation Stone of PMGSY Roads Worth Rs 1,503 Crore in Jammu (See 'Corp Brief') Companies Act - Corporate name change is merely alteration of MoA that preserves company's continuous legal identity, rights, liabilities & obligations without creating a new entity or dissolving the old one: HC (See 'Legal Desk')

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.

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