India, 04-09-2025 – In a world currently caught in tariff wars, protectionist policies have assumed high significance. Among the approaches adopted by developed nations and increasingly being followed by developing countries, non-tariff measures, especially technical regulations and standards, have not only become critical but are also causing significant trade friction. Even as they are primarily intended to address risks to human health, safety, or the environment, the hard-to-meet standards and even more complex compliance procedures pose challenges that require deep knowledge of technical standards and regulations for products and services, as well as the modalities of obtaining the required approvals. Technical regulations encompass virtually every sector of merchandize trade but are more prominently applied in sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals due to their direct impact on human safety.

What had been an overseas phenomenon till a decade ago is now emerging as a major Indian response with the promulgation of a large number of regulatory notifications, many through the QCO route, requiring conformance and mandatory certification or approvals from Indian regulators.

A major challenge is the lack of professional expertise in dealing with the complex world of technical regulations, evidenced through repeated incidents of consignment rejections of exported food products in overseas markets. As per the RASSF Window of the European Union between January and July this year, there were 4479 incidents of border rejections in food and food contact materials, out of which 565 were from India.

With a view to fill this gap, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has entered into a collaboration with Regulatory Representatives and Managers Association (RRMA) a body of regulatory professionals in India and Global Product Compliance (GPC) a global facilitator of regulatory compliances in the Chemicals sector to launch three professional courses that will prepare students and industry professionals with deep knowledge and understanding of the chemicals regulatory ecosystem and compliances a the national and international level. This pioneering initiative marks the first time that chemical regulation and technical standards have been formally integrated into a university curriculum in India.

The courses are in tune with the Indian National Strategy for Standardization (INSS) released by the Department of Commerce in June 2018, in which ‘Awareness, Counselling, Training and Education’ was identified as one of the pillars of the quality ecosystem and development of quality-related modules at all levels was highlighted as one of the goals.

The courses have been designed to empower students and make them employment ready. The courses include:

Standards and Regulations in Goods and Services – 2 Credits (30 Hours) – Regular/Mandatory Course
Introduction to Chemical Regulations – 1 Credit (15 Hours) – Regular/Mandatory Course
Advanced Course on Chemical Regulations – 2 Credits (30 Hours) – Elective Course.

This development aligns with RRMA’s core mission of regulatory capacity building by equipping students and professionals with essential skills and knowledge to navigate India’s and the global regulatory landscape. The collaboration represents a milestone not just for RRMA and TISS, but for India’s regulatory education sector.

Mr. Geert Dancet, Chair of RRMA and former Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), emphasized the international importance of the initiative: “This initiative is a visionary step for India’s regulatory education. By building local expertise with a global outlook, the collaboration between RRMA, GPC will empower future regulatory professionals to drive compliance and innovation in India and beyond.”

“This is more than an academic milestone—it is a national step forward in preparing India’s regulatory workforce for the future,” said Mr. Anil Jauhri, Co-Chair of RRMA and one of the core contributors to the course development.

With growing complexity in global regulations—ranging from EU REACH and GHS updates to India’s draft Chemical Management and Safety Rules—industries need trained professionals who can understand, interpret, and implement regulatory frameworks effectively. These new university-level courses offer structured learning in chemical safety, conformity assessment, environmental risk, global conventions (such as the Stockholm and Basel Conventions), and practical compliance strategies.

RRMA has been at the forefront of regulatory education in India, developing certification programs in partnership with renowned institutions such as IIT Hyderabad and IIM Mumbai. This new venture with TISS reinforces RRMA’s commitment to nurturing a strong pool of regulatory professionals across sectors such as chemicals, cosmetics, food contact materials, agrochemicals, and sustainability.

“Our collaboration with TISS exemplifies the potential of academia-industry partnerships in driving national development. It is a proud moment for all of us at RRMA,” added Mr. Anupam Kaul, Chair Executive Committee of RRMA.

“At GPC, we are dedicated to helping industries navigate the changing global regulatory landscape while encouraging sustainable and responsible practices. This initiative aims to develop a strong pool of skilled regulatory professionals who will drive the future of compliance and sustainability.” – Mr. Shisher Kumra, Executive Director, GPC.

“We are glad to collaborate with RRMA and GPC in developing and delivering courses on Standards and Regulations of Goods and Services and Chemical Regulation. These courses provide an edge to our master’s students in Regulatory Policy and Governance, opening new career opportunities in critical sectors. This would not have been possible without the active support of RRMA and GPC officials”. – Dr. Sachin Warghade, Chairperson, Centre for Regulatory Policy and Governance, TISS, Mumbai.

The first academic batch commenced from 1st August 2025, and the initiative is already gaining attention among regulatory professionals, students, and industry leaders. RRMA plans to build on this foundation by introducing further specialized programs and degrees to enhance compliance excellence.

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