Govt's aid measures for MSMEs - TReDS, Rs 9000 Crore infusion (See 'Corp Brief') Indian media & entertainment sector to maintain growth despite AI disruption: Secy (See 'Corp Brief') PBPT - Transactions are rightly deemed benami u/s 2(9)(D) of PBPTA, where person who provided consideration for properties was not traceable: SAFEMA Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') Sustainable coal mining - Govt simplifies approval for geological exploration & reports (See 'Corp Brief') Benami - Benami transaction is considered not only in case of transfer of property by beneficial owner for his ultimate benefit in future, but even if such properties is held by benamidar: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') IITF-2025 - FCI Pavilion showcasing modernised foodgrain management bags bronze medal (See 'Corp Brief') Copyright Act - Police have jurisdiction to register FIR u/s 33EEC of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act in conjunction with cognizable offence under Copyright Act; registration of copyright not mandatory for criminal proceedings upon infringement: HC (See 'Legal Desk') VO Chidambarnar port receives first Clinker vessel following MoU with Ambuja Cement Ltd (See 'Corp Brief') PMLA - Sweep of Sec 5(1) is not limited to accused named in criminal activity relating to scheduled offence, but shall apply equally to person who is involved in any activity connected with proceeds of crime: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') Govt approves 'Tex-RAMPS' Scheme to strengthen Research & Innovation in Textiles Sector (See 'Corp Brief') Gorakhpur-Pilibhit Express extended up to Izzatnagar (See 'Corp Brief') 'Mission Mausam' timelines to be expedited (See 'Corp Brief') IWAI signs MoUs worth Rs 6,000 Crores Inland Waterways Expansion on Ganga (See 'Corp Brief') Capital Market - Exemption granted from making open offer in respect of proposed acquisition shall remain valid for period of one year: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') Union Minister chairs High-Level Review Meeting on Greening Strategy for Delhi NCR (See 'Corp Brief') NTTM introduces scientific model for dignified recycling of National Flags (See 'Corp Brief') UIDAI deactivates over 2 Crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals (See 'Corp Brief') Company law - If company commits any default to submit, file, register or record any document, before expiry of period specified with additional fee, company and its officers who are in default, shall be liable for penalty or punishment: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Sitharaman chairs review meeting with Regional Directorates and Registrar of Companies (See 'Corp Brief') India-Slovenia Joint Committee on Trade reviews bilateral trade (See 'Corp Brief') Goyal calls for strong Centre–State Partnership to boost Exports (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Effective service of notices in trademark opposition proceedings and judiciary's role in rectifying administrative oversights, is critically important: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CCI okays ICICI Prudential to take over certain businesses of ICICI Venture (See 'Corp Brief') CCI allows Jindal Jhajjar to acquire Jhajjar Power (See 'Corp Brief') CCI approves acquisition of Toyota Industries by Toyota Asset Preparatory (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - If mark 'SACHAMOTI' and copyright in label are registered in favour of respondent, same shall enure to benefit of respondent insofar as rights flowing u/s 28 of Trade Marks Act is concerned: HC (See 'Legal Desk') India is entering golden era of defence innovation: RM (See 'Corp Brief') Last date to opt for UPS inches near (See 'Corp Brief') Goyal addresses National Conference of Trade Leaders (See 'Corp Brief') Benami - Provisional attachment shall be quashed, if property which was provisionally attached is neither Benami nor transaction which has occurred with respect to said property is benami: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') MoS announces Rs.720 Crore Quantum Fabrication facilities at IIT Bombay (See 'Corp Brief') India, Afghanistan to deepen cooperation in Textile Sector (See 'Corp Brief') MoS lauds Quantum sensing breakthroughs by IIT, inaugurates first Liquid Helium Cryogenic facility (See 'Corp Brief') Evidence-Based Ayurvedic Products are Future of Wellness: Jadhav (See 'Corp Brief') Hotel, Industry & farmers partnerships is Critical for mutual growth: Agri Secy (See 'Corp Brief') MeitY launches Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (See 'Corp Brief') India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting held in New Delhi (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Once right to file written statement is closed, application under Section 8 of Arbitration and Conciliation Act seeking reference to arbitration is not maintainable: HC (See 'Legal Desk') 'Workers are the miners of nation-building': Sonowal (See 'Corp Brief') India strengthens Textile and Sericulture Cooperation with Georgia (See 'Corp Brief') J&K to host launch of First Limestone Block Auction Roadshow (See 'Corp Brief') Indian Railways crosses 1 Billion Tonne Freight Loading in FY 25-26 (See 'Corp Brief') FEMA - Indian currency falls within scope of 'property' u/s 63 of FERA, empowering authorities to confiscate it when used in contravention of law: HC (See 'Legal Desk') IICA, DGR conclude Certification Program for senior Defence Officers (See 'Corp Brief') Op Drishti: Over 400 surgeries performed at Northern Command, J&K (See 'Corp Brief') ILO welcomes India's Labour Codes (See 'Corp Brief') Limitation Act - provisions of Limitation Act cannot be applied beneficially in favor of a petitioner who demonstrates mala fide intentions, including tampering with official documents: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Government intervention and Corporate governance (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