Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in plastic manufacturing has opposed the government move to make the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandatory on polymers and united against the same, citing it would damage the growth of the plastics processing industry.

In this regard, the All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) has dashed off a letter to the Union Minister of MSME, Nitin Gadkari requesting him to withdraw the government's proposal to make BIS standards mandatory on polymers (raw material) until domestic production of polymers are sufficient to meet country's consumption and India becomes 'Atmanirbhar' in polymer capacity.

AIPMA also apprised the Minister that the plastics processing industry comprises of 50,000+ units employing around 50 Lakhs people. 95 per cent of these units are MSME's.

"After careful and detailed analysis of the proposal, the plastics processing industry in India represented by various industry associations are of the firm opinion that the proposal to make BIS standards mandatory on polymers would be detrimental and damaging to the growth of the plastics processing industry", AIPMA stated in its letter.

"Therefore, we oppose the proposal of the government to make BIS standards mandatory on raw material and urge you to save the interest of the processing industry which is already reeling under tremendous challenges due to the pandemic", the letter read further.

AIPMA also said that the government should make mandatory BIS on critical finished goods which are being imported in large volumes and made in India by large plastic processors first.

"Out of total import of 5.7 Billion USD, 28% are films & sheets, Optical items are 10%, leather cloth 7%, Pipes hoses & fittings 3%, Electrical 3%. These items are made by larger plastic processors and can start the process of BIS. Other items can follow in a phased manner," it said.

Eventually, AIPMA suggested some measures before making BIS standards mandatory on plastics finished goods such as:

1. Give reasonable time to MSME's before making BIS standards mandatory
2. BIS registration and renewal cost should be made highly affordable for MSME's
3. Increase number of accredited labs in various production clusters and regions for testing and inspection.
4. Under technology upgradation fund, MSME's should be supported to set up in-house lab
5. Make sure inspector raj does not derail the MSME sector.