The Ministry of Commerce and Industry under the Government of India has introduced the Footwear made from All Rubber and All Polymeric Material and Components (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2026, on 12th June 2026, under the powers conferred by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016.
Under this update, the compliance date to the Footwear Quality Control Order (QCO) has been extended to 31st July 2027, and a new import exemption has also been included in the amendment for products of Research and Development (R&D) purposes. Let’s go through the article to get the complete details about the amendment and the list of products under it.
What is the Footwear QCO Amendment 2026?
The Footwear made from All Rubber and All Polymeric Materials and Components (QCOs) Notification 2024 introduces two major changes:
1. Extension to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) Relief: The micro and small enterprises’ exception as per the fifth proviso to QCO has been extended for 1 year from 31 July 2026 till 31 July 2027. Therefore, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) have another full year to comply with the BIS quality control order (QCO) requirements.
2. New Research and Development (R&D) Import Exemption: Manufacturers producing leather and footwear will now be allowed to import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear or like goods for R&D and non-commercial purposes each year without meeting any of the requirements of the QCO, subject to certain conditions, including:
- Items cannot be sold commercially.
- Must be labelled 'Not For Sale'.
- Must be disposed of as scrap
- Manufacturers should maintain annual records and supply them to the Government on request.
What products does the Footwear QCO cover?
Below, you can go through the list of products under the Footwear QCO Amendment 2026
|
Sr. No. |
Goods or Articles |
Indian Standard |
Title of Indian Standard |
|
1 |
Industrial and protective rubber knee and ankle boots |
Industrial and protective rubber knee and ankle boots – Specification |
|
|
2 |
All rubber gum boots and ankle boots |
All rubber gum boots and ankle boots: Part 2, occupational purposes |
|
|
3 |
Moulded solid rubber soles and heels |
Moulded solid rubber soles and heels – Specification |
|
|
4 |
Rubber microcellular sheets for soles and heels |
Rubber microcellular sheets for soles and heels – Specification |
|
|
5 |
Solid PVC soles and heels |
Specification for solid PVC soles and heels |
|
|
6 |
PVC sandal |
Specification for PVC sandal |
|
|
7 |
Rubber Hawai Chappal |
Rubber Hawai Chappal – Specification |
|
|
8 |
Slipper, rubber |
Specification for slipper, rubber |
|
|
9 |
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industrial boots |
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industrial boots – Specification |
|
|
10 |
Polyurethane sole, semirigid |
Polyurethane sole, semirigid – Specification |
|
|
11 |
Unlined moulded rubber boots |
Unlined moulded rubber boots – Specification |
|
|
12 |
Moulded plastics footwear – Lined or Unlined polyurethane boots for general industrial use |
Moulded plastics footwear – Lined or Unlined polyurethane boots for general industrial use – Specification |
|
|
13 |
Footwear for men and women for municipal scavenging work |
Footwear for men and women for municipal scavenging work |
Who is classified as an MSE under the Footwear QCO Amendment 2026?
The Footwear QCO Amendment does not provide a specific definition for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE). It relies on the classifications provided by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006. The Footwear manufacturers that fall within or above the Micro or Small Enterprises are considered eligible for MSEs under the Footwear QCO Amendment 2026 and can avail themselves of the benefits of the recent QCO Updates.
What happens if you miss the QCO compliance deadline?
If you do not comply with the Footwear Quality Control Order (QCO) by the deadline, there could be serious legal and business implications. The following are types of penalties imposed against manufacturers or importers who do not comply:
- Non-compliant products may not be manufactured or imported.
- Sales and distribution may be prohibited in the Indian Market.
- Products may be confiscated or removed from the market by authorities.
- Penalties and/or legal actions can be imposed under the BIS Act, 2016.
- There could be disruptions to business operations and delays in your Supply Chain.
- As a result of not complying, you could lose access to markets and revenue.
Conclusion
The Footwear Quality Control Order Amendment 2026 provides substantial relief to the footwear sector by extending the compliance exemption for qualifying Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) until 31st July, 2027 and establishing a new exemption for restricted Research and Development (R&D) imports.
The purpose of these modifications is to support small business growth through innovative development and to provide manufacturers with additional time to conform to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) quality criteria. In the future, businesses must understand eligibility criteria appropriately and comply promptly to avoid any regulatory complications or business interruptions.
