On September 17, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), released the Hand Tools (Quality Control) Order, 2024. This move aims to ensure that all hand tools - Open-Jaw Wrenches (Spanners) manufactured or sold in India adhere to strict quality standards, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance with established Indian Standards.

If you are involved in the manufacturing, selling, or importing of hand tools - Open-Jaw Wrenches (Spanners), this new order significantly impacts your business. The government, after consulting with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has determined that it is in the public interest to enforce quality standards for hand tools - Open-Jaw Wrenches (Spanners) under the BIS Act, 2016.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:

Key Provisions of the Hand Tools (Quality Control) Order, 2024

1. Title and Implementation Timeline

The order, officially titled the Hand Tools (Quality Control) Order, 2024, outlines specific timelines for when the new rules take effect:

• The order becomes effective six months from its date of publication in the Official Gazette.
• For small enterprises, the timeline is extended, becoming effective nine months after publication.
• Micro enterprises are given the longest lead time, with the order becoming effective twelve months after publication.

2. Mandatory BIS Certification

The heart of this order is the compulsory use of the BIS Standard Mark. Hand tools - Open-Jaw Wrenches (Spanners) must now conform to the Indian Standards specified in the order. To ensure compliance, manufacturers must obtain certification under a BIS license.

• The specific standards for Open-Jaw Wrenches (Spanners) corresponding Indian Standards IS 2028:2004.
• Importantly, this requirement applies only to goods manufactured for domestic use; hand tools - Open-Jaw Wrenches (Spanners) produced solely for export are exempt from this rule.

 3. BIS as the Certifying Authority

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will serve as the sole certifying and enforcing authority under this order. Their role is to ensure that manufacturers adhere to the established quality benchmarks and that only certified products bearing the BIS Standard Mark are sold in the Indian market.

4. Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with this order can lead to serious consequences. Any person or business that violates the provisions will face penalties under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. This serves as a strong deterrent to manufacturers and sellers who might attempt to circumvent the new regulations.

Stay compliant and keep your business ahead of the curve by preparing for these upcoming changes in the hand tools industry!

Implementation Dates: Date of implementation for General (other than Micro and Small Enterprises): 17th March 2025

- Date of implementation for Small Enterprises: 17th June 2025.