India is set to enforce a ban on Chinese video surveillance companies such as Hikvision, Dahua, and TP-Link from selling internet-connected CCTV cameras starting April 1, as reported by The Economic Times. The government plans to reject certification for products made by these companies or those utilizing Chinese chipsets.
The ban stems from the Essential Requirements norms for CCTV cameras introduced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in April 2024. Manufacturers were given a two-year transition period to certify each product under the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification regime at approved labs. The regulations mandate that manufacturers disclose the country of origin for critical components like the System-on-Chip and subject devices to rigorous testing for vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized remote access.
Only 507 CCTV camera models have currently obtained government certification, indicating the significant impact of the stringent rules on Chinese players like Hikvision and Dahua. Hikvision, for instance, had to establish a joint venture with an Indian firm and shift away from its Chinese supply chain to comply with the new regulations and remain in the Indian market.
Smartphone giants like Xiaomi and Realme have also been indirectly affected by the certification requirements, reflecting the broader implications of India’s move to regulate the sale of Chinese surveillance technology.
Source: mint – technology