New Safety Regulations For Textile Machinery To Take Effect From August 2025
In August 2024, the Central Government issued the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024, under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. The order, which will come into force from August 2025, focuses on enhancing safety standards for various types of machinery, including weaving and embroidery machines of textile machinery sector.
For the textile machinery sector, the regulation mandates that weaving machines (HS codes 8446, 844811, 844819, 844842, and 844849) and embroidery machines (HS codes 84479020 and 844859), must conform to specific Indian Standards, such as IS 17361 (Part 6): 2020 and IS 17361 (Part 1): 2020, aligned with the ISO 11111 standards for textile machinery safety.
Manufacturers will be required to obtain compulsory certification under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) before their machinery can enter the market. Additionally, the order outlines stringent market surveillance measures to ensure compliance, with penalties for non-compliance under the BIS Act.
The order excludes machinery intended for export and construction equipment covered under separate regulations. It aims to raise safety standards in India’s textile machinery industry, ensuring higher product quality and safety of workers in the textile industry.