India’s medical device manufacturers welcomed the Central Government’s decision to withdraw multiple Quality Control Orders (QCOs) imposed on essential raw materials across several sectors, including medical devices, and widely appreciated the move for easing compliance burdens and improving access to critical inputs.
AiMeD Calls for Additional Reforms
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) praised the withdrawal of QCOs across the polymer, plastic, textile, and chemical value chains. Furthermore, AiMeD urged the government to advance the next key reform recommended to the Gauba Committee—removing the No Objection Certificate (NOC) requirements enforced by various agencies. These NOCs currently affect the import of raw materials, intermediates, and components, as well as the reimport of returned export consignments and processes involved in setting up greenfield manufacturing projects.
Key Raw Materials Exempted from QCOs
As reported by Pharmbiz, the notification published in the Gazette on November 12, 2025, reverses QCOs on several critical inputs, including ABS, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester fibres, and other polymers widely used in the medical devices sector. These materials form the foundation for syringes, IV sets, catheters, diagnostic consumables, and packaging components.
Ensuring Quality and Export Competitiveness
According to AiMeD, India’s domestic supply base still lacks the capacity to manufacture many of these materials at global quality specifications. Therefore, access to imported grades remains essential to maintain product safety, ensure consistent performance, and strengthen export competitiveness. The recent withdrawal of QCOs, thus, marks an important step toward supporting the industry’s growth and enhancing its global readiness.