DPIIT grants non-leather footwear micro and small enterprises an additional year to obtain BIS certification, while easing import norms for research and product development
The government has granted micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the non-leather footwear sector an additional year to comply with the mandatory Quality Control Order (QCO), extending the deadline to 31 July 2027.
The extension is expected to provide smaller footwear manufacturers with more time to obtain certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is mandatory under the quality-control framework for the sector.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), through a notification amending the Footwear Made from All Rubber and All Polymeric Material and its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024, has also relaxed norms for imports meant for research and development activities.
Under the revised provisions, footwear manufacturers can import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear annually for research, design development, testing and other non-commercial purposes without complying with QCO requirements. Such imports, however, must be labelled “NOT FOR SALE” and disposed of as scrap after use.
Commenting on the amendment, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said, “The R&D exemption is expected to help Indian manufacturers access global samples and accelerate product innovation without facing regulatory barriers.”
Focus On Innovation
The revised rules apply only to footwear made from rubber and polymeric materials. Leather footwear continues to be regulated separately under the Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024, which mandates BIS certification for 12 categories of footwear.
The move comes as India continues to rely significantly on imported footwear and components. The country imported footwear and related products worth USD 628.8 million in FY2026.
Vietnam emerged as India’s largest footwear supplier, accounting for imports worth USD 211.7 million. China followed with USD 114.9 million, while Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand supplied footwear and components worth USD 99.5 million, USD 77.3 million and USD 22.6 million, respectively.
Together, these five countries accounted for more than 80 per cent of India’s footwear imports during the fiscal year.
“Most imports were non-leather footwear and footwear components, including soles, uppers and other inputs used by Indian manufacturers, underscoring the industry’s reliance on regional supply chains for materials and specialised parts,” said Ajay Srivastava, Founder, Global Trade Research Initiative.
