A Fresh Lifeline for India’s Footwear Industry
The footwear sector has just received its most significant compliance relief in nearly two years. On 12 June 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notified amendments to two key Quality Control Orders governing footwear manufactured, imported, and sold in India — giving manufacturers, distributors, and retailers substantially more breathing room to clear old inventory and test new products before committing to full BIS certification.
This update matters because footwear is one of the most heavily regulated consumer product categories under the BIS framework, with multiple overlapping Quality Control Orders covering different materials, sports categories, and safety classifications. For an industry that runs on seasonal collections and long import lead times, even a few months’ difference in a compliance deadline can mean the difference between clearing a season’s stock profitably or writing it off as a loss.
What Exactly Changed on 12 June 2026
Under the revised provisions, notified on June 12, manufacturers, distributors and retailers can now sell existing footwear stocks covered under the QCOs until July 31, 2027, extending the earlier deadline of July 31, 2026. The notification was announced by DPIIT, and according to the government, the one-year extension is intended to help the industry clear seasonal inventory in a phased manner while reducing compliance-related challenges.
The second major change concerns research and development imports. The amendments also exempt footwear samples imported exclusively for research and development from the requirements of the QCOs, which is expected to allow footwear manufacturers to evaluate product designs, study documentation requirements and benchmark international products before commencing commercial production. Separately reported figures indicate the R&D allowance has been set at a generous volume — manufacturers of footwear are allowed to import up to 4,500 footwear samples annually for Research and Development.
These amendments apply to two specific orders: 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.
Why the Government Is Softening the Deadline
The rationale behind the extension is rooted in the operational realities of footwear retail. 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 the flexibility to move existing, non-BIS-marked stock without facing sudden shelf clearance or destruction obligations.
This is not the first time the legacy stock deadline has been pushed back. When the original Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 was notified in March 2024, it initially permitted sale of declared old stock only up to 30 June 2025. That deadline was subsequently extended once already — to 31 July 2026 — before this latest June 2026 amendment pushed it out a further full year to 31 July 2027. The pattern shows DPIIT’s continuing willingness to calibrate enforcement timelines against real-world inventory cycles in the footwear trade, even while keeping the underlying BIS certification mandate fully intact.
What This Means in Practice for Footwear Businesses
1. Legacy Stock Holders Get More Time — But Must Still Self-Declare
Businesses sitting on non-ISI-marked footwear inventory manufactured or imported before the applicable QCO commencement dates should not treat the 2027 extension as a free pass. Under the original order framework, the relief applies only to manufacturers who are BIS certified or have already applied for certification, and who have formally declared their old stock. Companies that have not yet filed this declaration should do so immediately to lock in eligibility for the extended sell-through window.
2. R&D Importers Must Build Proper Documentation Trails
The 4,500-unit annual R&D exemption is a meaningful concession for global footwear brands wanting to test the Indian market or benchmark competitor products without going through full certification for every sample. However, this exemption is not unconditional. Businesses using it should:
- Maintain detailed, year-wise records of every R&D sample imported
- Ensure these samples are never sold commercially
- Be prepared to furnish import records to customs or BIS on demand
- Keep R&D imports clearly segregated from commercial consignments at the point of customs clearance
3. Certification Obligations for New Stock Remain Unchanged
It is critical to note that the extension applies only to legacy stock — footwear manufactured or imported before the QCO’s commencement date. Any new production or fresh import consignment must still bear the BIS Standard Mark under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, covering the applicable Indian Standards such as IS 15844 for sports footwear, IS 6721 for sandals and slippers, and IS 17043 for general-purpose shoes. There is no relaxation for new manufacturing or import runs — only for previously produced stock caught in the transition.
4. Micro and Small Manufacturers Retain Their Exemption
The original footwear QCO framework carves out an exemption for micro and small manufacturing units as defined under the MSME Development Act, 2006, and this carve-out continues to apply alongside the new amendments. MSME footwear producers should still verify their eligibility threshold and maintain documentation proving their MSME registration status, since customs and BIS enforcement teams may seek proof at the point of clearance or market surveillance.
Broader Context: A Pattern of Transition Relief Across BIS QCOs
The footwear amendments are part of a wider DPIIT trend this year of building in flexibility mechanisms around QCO enforcement — including the Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 for other product categories and similar legacy-stock and R&D-import relaxations issued for furniture and copper products. For footwear specifically, though, the June 2026 changes are the most consequential update since the original 2024 orders, directly affecting inventory planning, customs clearance timelines, and product testing strategy for the entire sector — from large exporters to domestic retail chains.
Action Checklist for Footwear Manufacturers, Importers, and Retailers
- Audit current non-BIS-marked inventory and confirm/complete self-declaration filings to qualify for the extended 31 July 2027 sell-through window
- Segregate and document any R&D sample imports to stay within the applicable annual unit exemption
- Confirm BIS certification status for all new production runs under the relevant Indian Standards (IS 15844, IS 6721, IS 17043, and related specifications)
- Verify MSME exemption eligibility if applicable, and keep supporting documentation ready for BIS market surveillance checks
- Track further DPIIT circulars, since operational guidelines implementing these amendments may still be issued by BIS or the Council for Leather Exports
ACPL’s regulatory experts can help you navigate BIS quality control order updates affecting the footwear industry. Contact us at info@acplgroupindia.co.in or call +91-9266665201 for a consultation.