European Union (EU) has been raising protective barriers against Textiles & Garments exports from India through various Non- Tariff barriers such as Labelling Certification and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances).

To ensure that Indian exports are not denied market access, particularly in Europe and other places; Department of Commerce and Ministry of Textiles have been raising the issue of protective barriers in the India-EU Sub-Commission on Trade. These issues will also be taken up with the EU in the next meeting of the India-EU Joint Working Group on Textiles and Clothing (T&C). Ministry of Textiles has also mooted the idea of developing and implementing a Common Compliance Code incorporating all social compliance issues to empower the T&C industry with adequate compliance information and to train the industry to make itself compliant with these norms. The Common Compliance Code will include:

• Developing a code of conduct based on international standards with global endorsement;
• Designing systems for assessment, monitoring and evaluation;
• Developing guidelines for implementation; and
• Facilitate factory capacity building
This information was given by Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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DS/MRS
(Release ID :70767)