The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 is a provision issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, specifically the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the authority of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. It was created to act as a strategic bridge for industries facing mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs) and came into force on June 25, 2026. The problem it solves is preventing severe supply chain disruptions and business continuity issues that arose from the long and arduous compliance process for the more stringent QCOs, which the government had been issuing since 2020 to improve quality standards.
The Order works by introducing an alternative risk-based compliance mechanism to facilitate a smooth transition for the industry while maintaining quality assurance. Its key mechanism is allowing eligible companies, which are registered under the Companies Act, 2013 and demonstrate strong technical capability and compliance history, to procure supplies from manufacturers holding a fast-tracked BIS Scheme-II licence instead of the more rigorous Scheme-I licence. Scheme-I requires exhaustive factory audits and the grant of an ISI Mark, whereas Scheme-II allows manufacturers to supply products based on a self-declaration of compliance with Indian standards. This mechanism applies to goods covered under approximately 10 QCOs, including those for toys, footwear, air conditioners, and furniture. The Order connects directly to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016 and the various Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the government. The Order itself is a recent change, replacing the requirement for immediate and universal compliance with the more stringent Scheme-I for specified QCOs with a performance-based, transitional pathway. Manufacturers who maintain three years of uninterrupted compliance under applicable QCOs become eligible for this facilitation mechanism.