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Govt eases footwear quality norms to strengthen manufacturing ecosystem
Jul-10-2026

With an aim to enhance ease of doing business and foster a stronger and more competitive domestic footwear manufacturing ecosystem, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has amended two Quality Control Orders (QCOs) pertaining to the footwear sector. The amendments apply to the Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 and the Footwear made from All Rubber and all Polymeric Material and its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024, which were notified on June 12, 2026.

One of the most significant changes is the extension of the timeline for clearance of legacy stock from July 31, 2026 to July 31, 2027. As footwear products are largely seasonal and inventories often remain within the supply chain beyond a single selling cycle, the additional one-year period will provide manufacturers, distributors and retailers adequate time for the orderly liquidation of existing stock. The extension is expected to reduce the compliance burden, minimise disruption to trade and ensure that only BIS-certified footwear products are sold in the market thereafter.

The amendments also provide an exemption for the import of samples for Research & Development (R&D). Manufacturers of leather and footwear products may import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear annually for research and development and other non-commercial purposes. Such samples shall not be sold commercially, must be prominently marked and embossed with the words ‘Not for Sale’, and shall be disposed of as scrap after use. Manufacturers will be required to maintain year-wise records of such imports and furnish the same to the Government as and when required.

The transitional provisions are intended to ease compliance, support product development and innovation, and facilitate industry operations without compromising quality standards. The measures are aligned with the Prime Minister's vision of ‘Zero Defect, Zero Effect’ manufacturing and are expected to advance the objectives of the Make in India initiative while strengthening India's position as a global hub for quality manufacturing.

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