RAI delegation had a series of meetings chaired by Hon Minister - Shri Piyush Goyal ji, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, Shri Pramod Tiwari on Quality Control Standards (QCOs) on footwear issued by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

DPIIT has issued the attached Gazette Notifications dated 15th March (published on 16th March) regarding the Footwear QCOs effecting the following amendments:

1) Suppression of previous Footwear QCOs, 2022 issued in June, 2022.

2) Time extension for QCO implementation till 01-August-2024 for the following footwear Categories:

• 12 Leather Footwear Categories under the Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 (including Sports Shoes- IS 15844, Derby Shoes- IS 17043)

• 12 footwear categories of Leather / Polymer material under the Footwear made from all-Rubber and all Polymeric material and its components (Quality Control) Order, 2022 (Including Sandals and Slippers, Hawai Chappal and others)

3) QCO exemption for legacy stock / existing stock manufactured or imported prior to commencement of this order (01-Aug-2024) and permitted to sell / liquidate till 30-June-2025 on declaration to BIS for manufacturers who are BIS Certified / in process of certification.

• QCO exemption will be for BIS certified manufacturers or any manufacturer who has applied for BIS Certification, declaring its old stock of footwear products without BIS Standards Mark manufactured or imported prior to this order.

• Such manufacturer shall be permitted to sell or display or offer to sell such declared stock up to 30th June, 2025.

4) Continued QCO exemption for Micro and Small manufacturing units as defined by MSME Development Act, 2006, and for exports.

5) QCO exemption for the import of goods /articles (like Moulded Rubber / PVC Outsoles, PU Outsoles, Microcellular Rubber Sheets for Outsoles) for domestic manufacturing meant for exports. Click on the links below to view the latest Principal Orders:

https://bit.ly/all-rubber-and-all-polymeric-materials-qco-2024

https://bit.ly/legacy-stock

https://rai.net.in/Advocacy_Files/leather-and-other-materials-qco-2024.pdf