Domestic toymakers on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for making the country a hub for toy manufacturing, but sought additional time to meet certification norms.

Though the industry is facing economic difficulties, the All India Toys Federation (AITF) - which represents toy retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers - said it would rise above the challenges to achieve the goal. “We are happy and encouraged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking about the toy industry. PM Modi said India should become the global hub for toy manufacturing, but it would take some more time to achieve that,” AITF Vice President Abdullah Sharif said in a statement.The Indian toy industry is currently struggling with a large-scale slump in demand and issues stemming from economic uncertainties amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the association said.

 It also sought more time for toy companies to obtain licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

“We also hope that the government gives us some more time to gain a certification from the BIS, a requirement from today, September 1. For this, we need an additional 18-24 months to ensure that all micro, small, and medium toy enterprises can rise to this challenge,” Sharif added.  According to the association, from September 1, all toy manufacturers and importers need a licence from BIS. It said many small and medium units, facing a financial crunch, would not be able to adhere to these standards right away.   “We fear that such measures can hinder PM Modi’s vision, causing smaller units to shut down. We’d be left with only big MNCs, who will sell expensive branded toys in their store chains,” Sharif said.  “Very few domestic and nearly none of the foreign toy manufacturers have been able to apply for the required BIS certification, due to multiple clauses. The standards include quality requirements, the onus to set up testing labs, and the process’s time-consuming length,” the statement said.