FOGWA requests postponement of BIS on textile machinery to 2027

The Federation of Gujarat Weavers Welfare Association (FOGWA) has urged Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh to delay implementing Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on textile machinery until March 2027. FOGWA President Ashok Jirawala and former Southern Gujarat Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) President Ashish Gujarati submitted a detailed representation in New Delhi.

FOGWA highlighted the textile industry's heavy reliance on high-speed, modern imported machines from countries like China, Japan, and Europe, as no Indian manufacturers currently produce such advanced machinery. Attempts by local manufacturers to create similar technology have been unsuccessful, reinforcing dependence on imports.

The enforcement of BIS at this stage would likely stagnate the growth of the textile industry, causing substantial financial losses for industrialists. It would also negatively impact exports and reduce job creation, as Indian manufacturers are currently unable to produce machinery comparable to advanced imported alternatives.

FOGWA emphasized that global competition, especially with China, requires immediate attention to this issue and appealed for the postponement to safeguard the industry’s development.