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Quality Control Orders - footwear
What it is
Mandatory BIS certification for footwear covers 13 categories including leather, rubber and polymeric footwear and sports shoes across performance tiers, in force since 1 August 2024. Manufacturers and importers must hold a licence and mark product before sale
The deadline for clearing uncertified legacy stock was extended to 31 July 2027 by DPIIT notifications issued in June 2026
Impact on industries
- Certification excludes low-cost uncertified imports, which is the protection domestic manufacturers sought for years
- The standard is a floor on material and construction quality, so compliant makers compete less against product that was never comparable
- Certification and testing cost falls hardest on small units, which make the bulk of Indian footwear, and the repeated deadline extensions reflect exactly that
- Import-dependent retailers and global brands carry inventory risk until legacy stock clears, and some narrow their India assortment instead