Relief for Industry as Footwear QCO Deadline Extended by One Year
1. QCO timeline extended by one year
RAI had a series of meetings with officials from DPIIT and BIS, during which we highlighted that a significant portion of the non-BIS-compliant inventory comprises slow-moving stock and would therefore require additional time for liquidation.
Following RAI's representations to DPIIT and BIS, the transition timeline under the Leather Footwear QCO has been extended from 31 July 2026 to 31 July 2027. Please click on the link below to view the notification:
This gives the sector much-needed time to liquidate slow-moving stock amid weak sales sentiment and rising input costs
2. New R&D/Sample import exemption
Manufacturers of leather and footwear products may now import up to 4,500 pairs per year for R&D and non-commercial use, exempt from QCO requirements, subject to: not sold commercially; marked/embossed "NOT FOR SALE"; disposed of as scrap; and year-wise records furnished to the Government on request.