Coal Output surges as Captive and Commercial Mines Perform Strongly (See 'Corp Brief') National Textiles Ministers' Conference to be held in Guwahati (See 'Corp Brief') First Mountain Tunnel breakthrough achieved in Bullet Train Project at Palghar: Vaishnaw (See 'Corp Brief') Veep to preside over inaugural function of Siddha Day celebrations in Chennai (See 'Corp Brief') Scheduled Commercial Banks can also become sponsors of PFs (See 'Corp Brief') MNRE assures full support to IREDA in its growth journey (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Non- stamping or insufficient stamping of one of documents relied upon by creditor does not impede initiation of insolvency resolution process, which differs from enforcement action: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') MoD records significant progress in implementing wide-ranging reforms (See 'Corp Brief') Lower CNG, PNG Prices to ease household and transport fuel costs: Govt (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Penalty can be levied if lapses demonstrated non-compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations incumbent on IP, undermining interests of stakeholders and integrity of insolvency process: IBBI (See 'Legal Desk') DFS successfully concludes nationwide campaign - Your Money, Your Right (See 'Corp Brief') Chouhan on a three-day visit to Maharashtra (See 'Corp Brief') DoP & SIDBI sign MoU for Contact Point Verification of Informal Micro Enterprises (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Law - Practice of tying the sale of urea with other fertilizer products amounts to agreement that causes or is likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India, thereby contravening Sec 3 of Competition Act: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') NICDC Logistics Data Services completes 10 Years of Operations in Logistics Data and Digital Systems (See 'Corp Brief') PM to inaugurate exposition of sacred Piprahwa Relics on 3rd Jan, 2026 (See 'Corp Brief') WAVES Bazaar, One Stop Portal for Showcasing India's Creative Talents (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Law - Control over DCE compatibility & restrictive contractual conditions could effectively make exhibitors/producers captive customers of specific post-production processors, harming competition: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') We will be able to run Vande Bharat train through Mangaluru route: Vaishnaw (See 'Corp Brief') President of India to confer AI Certificates (See 'Corp Brief') Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Summoning order quashed where complaint lacks specific averments regarding petitioner's direct involvement in issuance of dishonored cheques: HC (See 'Legal Desk') DFS Secy highlights key initiatives for deepening digitisation of tribunals (See 'Corp Brief') Framework for professionalized Sports Governance being constructed (See 'Corp Brief') Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - merely being Director in company is per se not enough to establish vicarious liability under Section 141 of the Act, without clear allegations of role in company's affairs: HC (See 'Legal Desk') NHAI signs MoU with National Test House to Strengthen Quality Assurance in Highway Projects (See 'Corp Brief') PMLA - Fact that property is retransferred to the beneficial owner after completion of purpose for which it was given to benamidar, provisions of PBPT Act are attracted and it does not exonerate any party to benami transaction: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') DoT extends Pro-Tem Security Certification Scheme for two years from 01-01-2026 (See 'Corp Brief') PMLA - Even if predicate offences were not directly linked to appellants, ingredients of money laundering under PMLA could still apply as per settled legal precedent: SAFEMA Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') PMLA - Attachments of even bank balances can be sustained if enforcement agency satisfies statutory scheme and evidentiary requirements: SAFEMA Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') Joshi releases Indian Standard for Electric Agricultural Tractor (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Generic or commonly descriptive word can never become trade marks on their own as they never acquire distinctiveness or a secondary meaning: HC (See 'Legal Desk') NTH signs MoU with DRDO's DMSRDE for research, testing and training collaboration (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Kohinoor's trademark registrations in Delhi and marketing agreement executed between parties in Delhi were sufficient to vest territorial jurisdiction in Court: 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.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES