DPIIT Relaxes Footwear QCO Norms, Extends Legacy Stock Deadline and Allows R&D Sample Imports

Ø DPIIT Extends Legacy Stock Clearance Timeline for Footwear Till 31 July 2027

Ø DPIIT Permits Import of Up to 4,500 Footwear Samples Annually for Research and Development

· The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has amended two Footwear Quality Control Orders (QCOs), 2024 to promote ease of doing business and strengthen domestic footwear manufacturing.

· The amendments were notified on 12 June 2026 through S.O. 3038(E) and S.O. 3037(E).

· Legacy stock clearance deadline has been extended by one year, from 31 July 2026 to 31 July 2027.

· The extension allows manufacturers, distributors, and retailers sufficient time to clear existing seasonal inventories.

· The measure is expected to:

o Reduce compliance burden,

o Minimise disruption to trade,

o Ensure that only BIS-certified footwear is sold after 31 July 2027.

· DPIIT has introduced an R&D exemption allowing manufacturers to import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear samples per year for research, development, testing, and other non-commercial purposes.

· Conditions for imported samples:

o Must be clearly marked "NOT FOR SALE",

o Cannot be sold commercially,

o Must be disposed of as scrap after use,

o Manufacturers must maintain year-wise import records and submit them to the Government when required.

· The exemption aims to support:

o Product design evaluation,

o Vendor presentations,

o Product replication and innovation,

o Domestic manufacturing capability.

· The amendments support quality manufacturing without compromising standards and align with:

o Make in India initiative,

o Prime Minister's "Zero Defect, Zero Effect" vision,

o Strengthening India's position as a global manufacturing hub.

[ABS News Service/10.07.2026]

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has introduced amendments to two Quality Control Orders (QCOs) relating to the footwear sector with the objective of facilitating ease of doing business and strengthening the domestic footwear manufacturing ecosystem. The amendments were notified on 12 June 2026 vide S.O. 3038(E) and S.O. 3037(E), respectively, pertaining to 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.

Under the amendments, the timeline for clearance of legacy stock has been extended from 31 July 2026 to 31 July 2027. 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 adequate time for the orderly liquidation of existing stock. The extension is expected to reduce the compliance burden, minimise disruption to trade and ensure that only BIS-certified footwear products are sold in the market thereafter.

The amendments also provide an exemption for the import of samples for Research & Development (R&D). Manufacturers of leather and footwear products may import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear annually for research and development and other non-commercial purposes. Such samples shall not be sold commercially, must be prominently marked and embossed with the words "NOT FOR SALE", and shall be disposed of as scrap after use. Manufacturers will be required to maintain year-wise records of such imports and furnish the same to the Government as and when required.

The sample exemption has been introduced to enable manufacturers to evaluate product designs, assess whether documentation alone is sufficient for product assessment, and determine the quantity of samples genuinely required for research and development. Samples imported under this provision are intended exclusively for vendor presentations or for replication and subsequent manufacture within India and are expressly prohibited from commercial sale.

These amendments reflect DPIIT's continued commitment to strengthening India's quality ecosystem while promoting ease of doing business. The transitional provisions, including the extension of the legacy stock clearance deadline until 31 July 2027 and the annual import of up to 4,500 pairs of footwear samples for research and development, are intended to ease compliance, support product development and innovation, and facilitate industry operations without compromising quality standards. The measures are aligned with the Prime Minister's vision of "Zero Defect, Zero Effect" manufacturing and are expected to advance the objectives of the Make in India initiative while strengthening India's position as a global hub for quality manufacturing.