India far more urban in functional terms than official definitions: Survey (See 'Corp Brief') Economic Survey lays stress on swadeshi for strategic resilience (See 'Corp Brief') 5G services now available in over 99% districts (See 'Corp Brief') Survey asks States to focus on entrepreneurial policy making (See 'Corp Brief') Health insurance accounts for 41% of Gross Domestic Premium (See 'Corp Brief') 'Vande Mataram', 'Anand Math', 'Atulya Bharat' tunes to regale audience at Beating Retreat ceremony (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - NCLT can't decide title disputes over assets, including IPRs such as trademarks, unless they have direct & proximate nexus with insolvency resolution process: SC (See 'Legal Desk') Youth Lead Democracy: Model Youth Gram Sabha Awards Conferred in Delhi (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - Execution sale during pendency of insolvency proceedings held void; Official Receiver can seek annulment even without expressly invoking Section 56: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Union fisheries secretary engages shrimp farmers, boosts scientific innovation in aquaculture (See 'Corp Brief') Learjet 45 aircraft VT-SSK crash at Baramati Airport of M/s VSR Ventures PVT LTD (See 'Corp Brief') SAFEMA - contravention of Sections 3(d) and 7(1)(a)can be established based on documentary evidence & circumstantial corroboration applying the standard of preponderance of probabilities, even in absence of direct evidence of cash payment: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') CCI nod to acquisition of certain shareholding of Toyota Industries Corp (See 'Corp Brief') Department of Posts signs Agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited for access to capital market services (See 'Corp Brief') MSME beneficiaries invited as special guests for R-Day celebrations (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Resolution Professionals under IBC are public servants under Prevention of Corruption Act: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Govt approves Wage Revision & Pension Revision for PSGICs, NABARD and RBI (See 'Corp Brief') ICAR-Borlaug Institute jointly organise NICRA Review and ACASA-India Launch Workshop (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI - Failure to make timely disclosure of material developments relating to a proposed scheme of arrangement & delayed disclosure of outcome of board meeting constitutes violation of LODR Regulations: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') Sundays on Cycle to celebrate National Voters' Day through #MYBharatMYVote (See 'Corp Brief') India is Partner Country at Gulfood 2026 for First Time (See 'Corp Brief') PMLA - Offence of money-laundering is independent offence regarding process or activity connected with proceeds of crime which had been derived or obtained as result of criminal activity relating to or in relation to scheduled offence: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') NHA Organizes Federated Intelligence Hackathon for Healthcare at IIT Kanpur (See 'Corp Brief') NIFT Conference 2026 on 'Design for Inclusive Futures' Opens at NIFT Mumbai (See 'Corp Brief') Trade Mark - permanent injunction allowed on use of certain Trade Mark, which is visually, phonetically & structurally similar to an existing trade mark, which also has considerable goodwill: HC (See 'Legal Desk') MSDE signs landmark MoU with WEF to deepen Cooperation in Vocational Education (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Valuation report submitted by RV serves as critical document for Committee of Creditors to take crucial decision about resolution plan in CIRP and reserve price of asset during liquidation: IBBI (See 'Legal Desk') Ministry of I&B Tableau showcases Vision of WAVES (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - If attachment action may jeopardise resolution plan and cause grave prejudice to interest of homebuyers, matter needs further consideration: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Scindia chairs Q3 Business Review to Fast-Track India Post's transformation (See 'Corp Brief') Trade Marks - Hermes, Birkin marks - suit for infringement allowed, as both marks are well-recognized & consistently used: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CCI embraces government monopolies and PSUs (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.

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