The government has permitted the import of footwear soles under certain conditions. Amending an earlier quality control order (QCO), the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, allowed businesses to import the sole of footwear on the condition that the component will be used in manufacturing products meant for exports, among other requirements. 

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In a fresh order, dated September 1, the department mentioned four kinds of material and components, in consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards: 

Goods or articles (components) Indian standard Title of the standard
Moulded solid rubber soles and heels IS 5676:1995 Moulded solid rubber soles and heels–specification
Rubber microcellular sheets for soles and heels IS 6664:1992 Rubber microcellular sheets for soles and heels–specification
Solid PVC soles and heels IS 6719:1972 Specification for solid PVC soles and heels
Polyurethane sole, semi-rigid IS 13893:1994 Polyurethane sole, semi rigid–specification

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade said the goods made using such material will not be used or sold in the domestic market, and eligible manufacturers will also be required to submit a self-declaration along with other necessary documents such as bills on the government portal. 

The development comes roughly two months after the government’s quality control norms applicable to medium- and large-scale footwear makers came into force, defining standards for areas such as the raw material to be used for producing goods. The norms were aimed at preventing the import of substandard material used in the manufacturing of footwear amid the ultimate goal of protecting the consumer’s interest.

While the quality control norms for large- and medium-scale footwear producers took effect on July 1, 2023, the government set deadlines of January 1, 2024 and July 1, 2024 for small- and micro-scale footwear makers to comply with the new rules. 

In a similar move, the government last month issued a mandatory quality control order for ceiling fans in a bid to ensure the production of quality products.