A joint meeting was held at the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), led by Additional Secretary, Dr. Hanif Qureshi, with Mr. Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation & Foreign Trade, Sweden, and Mr. Jan Thesleff, Ambassador of Sweden to India. The discussions focused on Omnibus Technical Regulations (OTR) for Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety-2024—a pioneering framework in India aimed at enhancing manufacturing sector capabilities and ensuring safer workplaces.

Mr. Håkan Jevrell highlighted that regulations are the backbone of technological advancements, stressing Sweden’s leadership in manufacturing niche technologies. He also reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to supporting India in developing such technologies and maintaining standardized regulations in the manufacturing sector, reflecting the strong ties between the two nations.

 

About Omnibus Technical Regulations (OTR): India is at a pivotal moment, leveraging its demographic strengths and economic aspirations to achieve the government’s vision of increasing the manufacturing sector's GDP. The Omnibus Technical Regulation for Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety, notified on 28th August 2024, exemplifies this vision. The regulation will come into effect on 28th August 2025 and covers over 444 products, specifying 90 safety standards.

Key highlights of the OTR like Enhanced Safety and Quality: Establishes stringent standards to ensure products are safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly, boosting consumer confidence. Discouraging Substandard Imports: Implements strict safety and certification requirements to restrict the import of low-quality machinery. Promoting Energy Efficiency: Encourages the manufacturing of energy-efficient machines and the development of testing infrastructure to position India as a global manufacturing hub.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is responsible for enforcing OTR, ensuring compliance and workplace safety. MHI has also initiated awareness programs in collaboration with BIS across various locations and launched an online registration process for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

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