NEW DELHI, Sept. 15 -- India's consumer affairs ministry plans to mandate a three-month shelf life for specialized cement, shorter testing timelines and more detailed batch and product information for the critical construction material, two government officials involved in the process said.

Specialized cement varies in composition and performance requirements from normal cement used in general construction. It is used in applications requiring enhanced performance or durability such as dams and bridges.

With inadequate storage facilities for cement at construction sites, a "three-month best-before" tag will help ensure that cement is not used beyond the recommended period, when moisture in the air can make it lose its compressive streng...