The Woven Sacks QCO 2026 introduces several changes to quality control orders for high-density Polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) woven sacks in India. On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, released three amendment orders, namely, S.O. 5478(E), S.O. 5479(E), and S.O. 5480(E), that amended the commencement dates of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) 2023 for specific woven sack products.
BIS Woven Sacks QCO amendments concern sacks for packing 50 kg cement and sacks for sorting, storing, transporting, and distributing mail. The respective BIS compliance commencement dates differ by the type of woven sack: S.O. 5479(E) will come into force on 6 November 2026, whereas S.O. 5478(E) and S.O. 5480(E) will come into force on 6 January 2027. Therefore, manufacturers and importers should be aware of the BIS compliance requirements for woven sacks regarding QCO commencement dates.
Key Highlights of the Woven Sacks QCO Amendments
These are three separate amendment notifications, but they are closely related, as all three amend existing QCOs concerning woven textile sacks.
|
Notification |
Product Covered |
Revised Effective Date |
|
S.O. 5478(E) |
Textiles - High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)/Polypropylene (PP) Woven Sacks for Packaging of 50 kg Cement |
6 January 2027 |
|
S.O. 5479(E) |
PP Woven, Laminated, Block Bottom Valve Sacks for Packaging 50 kg Cement |
6 November 2026 |
|
S.O. 5480(E) |
PP/HDPE Laminated Woven Sacks for Mail Sorting, Storage, Transport and Distribution |
6 January 2027 |
Are S.O. 5478(E), S.O. 5479(E) and S.O. 5480(E) Related?
Yes. All these notifications are connected, but they are applicable to different products.
All three notifications were issued on 6 October 2026 and amend separate 2023 quality control orders. The notifications are issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
However, these notifications regulate the production of different types of woven sacks.
- S.O. 5478(E) applies to HDPE/PP woven sacks used for packaging 50 kg cement.
- S.O. 5479(E) applies to PP-woven, laminated, block-bottom valve sacks used for packaging 50 kg bags of cement.
- S.O. 5480(E) applies to PP/HDPE-laminated woven sacks used for mail sorting, storage, transport and distribution.
S.O. 5478(E): HDPE/PP Woven Sacks for Packaging of 50 kg Cement
The S.O. 5478(E), notified on 6 October 2026, seeks to further amend the Textiles - High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)/Polypropylene (PP) Woven Sacks for Packaging of 50 kg Cement (Quality Control) Order, 2023. This amendment revises the commencement date of the existing QCO order to 6 January 2027, so the QCO will take effect on that date. The notification does not replace the entire 2023 QCO; it only modifies the provision regarding its commencement.
S.O. 5479(E): PP Woven Laminated Block Bottom Valve Sacks
The S.O. 5479(E) dated 6 October 2026 has been notified by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals to amend the Textiles – Polypropylene (PP) Woven, Laminated, Block Bottom Valve Sacks for Packaging 50 Kg Cement (Quality Control) Order, 2023. The amendment pertains to the date the order comes into effect. The new date is 6 November 2026, replacing the earlier one. It does not supersede the 2023 order as a whole but merely amends its provision regarding the effective date.
S.O. 5480(E): PP/HDPE Laminated Woven Sacks for Mail
Notification No. S.O. 5480(E) has been published by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals on 6 October 2026 to further amend the Textiles — PP/HDPE Laminated Woven Sacks for Mail Sorting, Storage, Transport and Distribution (Quality Control) Order, 2023. The amendment concerns the date the order comes into operation, changing it from 6 October 2026 to 6 January 2027. This notice does not repeal the 2023 QCO; it only amends its effective date.
Do These Woven Sacks Require BIS Certification or ISI Mark?
Yes. Once each QCO comes into force, woven sacks covered by it must conform to the relevant Indian Standard and carry the Standard Mark (ISI mark) under a licence from BIS. Products that don’t comply cannot be manufactured, imported, sold or distributed in India.
- PP woven, laminated, block bottom valve sacks: from 6 November 2026
- HDPE/PP woven sacks for 50 kg cement: from 6 January 2027
- PP/HDPE laminated woven sacks for mail: from 6 January 2027
The October 2026 notifications only change these dates. They do not cancel or relax the BIS certification requirement.
What Do the Woven Sacks QCO Amendments Mean for Manufacturers and Importers?
The amendments give manufacturers of HDPE/PP cement sacks and mail sacks about three months to prepare. Manufacturers and importers of PP woven, laminated, block bottom valve sacks have far less time, as their QCO comes into force on 6 November 2026, just one month after the notification.
Manufacturers and importers should:
- Identify if their product comes under the ambit of any of the three QCOs.
- Find out which particular QCO and product category their woven sacks belong to.
- Look at the Indian Standard cited under the relevant QCO.
- Go through the BIS conformity assessment requirements of the relevant QCO.
- Prepare the necessary technical and manufacturing data.
- Get the product tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory as per the applicable Indian Standard
- Comply with BIS requirements before the relevant QCO comes into effect.
- Keep track of any future amendments/clarifications by the relevant authority.
Difference Between the Three Woven Sacks QCOs
Although the three amendments were issued together, they apply to different products and applications.
|
Parameter |
S.O. 5478(E) |
S.O. 5479(E) |
S.O. 5480(E) |
|
Product |
HDPE/PP woven sacks |
PP woven, laminated, block bottom valve sacks |
PP/HDPE laminated woven sacks |
|
Main application |
Packaging of 50 kg cement |
Packaging of 50 kg cement |
Mail sorting, storage, transport and distribution |
|
Original QCO |
2023 |
2023 |
2023 |
|
Amendment |
Second Amendment Order, 2026 |
Second Amendment Order, 2026 |
Second Amendment Order, 2026 |
|
Amendment date |
6 October 2026 |
6 October 2026 |
6 October 2026 |
|
Effective date |
6 January 2027 |
6 November 2026 |
6 January 2027 |
Conclusion
On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals) issued three amendment orders, S.O. 5478(E), S.O. 5479(E) and S.O. 5480(E), that revise the commencement dates of three woven sacks Quality Control Orders (QCOs) originally notified in 2023. Manufacturers/importers must identify their respective QCOs and have their products certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) before the effective date.
ERCS Private Limited provides assistance to manufacturers/importers regarding BIS requirements and certification for woven sacks. We will help you determine your QCO, identify the relevant Indian Standard, document your product, coordinate testing, and apply for certification with the BIS. If you need help with BIS certification for woven sacks, ERCS provides professional compliance support.