DPIIT Eases Norms for Footwear Manufacturers to Boost Domestic Production and R&D

New Delhi, Jul 10 (KNN) The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has amended two Footwear Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to facilitate ease of doing business and support the domestic footwear manufacturing sector.

The amendments extend the deadline for clearance of legacy footwear stock from July 31, 2026, to July 31, 2027, providing manufacturers, distributors and retailers additional time to clear existing inventories.

DPIIT has also allowed manufacturers to import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear samples annually for research and development and other non-commercial purposes.

The imported samples must be marked "NOT FOR SALE", cannot be sold commercially, and must be disposed of as scrap after use. Manufacturers are required to maintain annual records of such imports.

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

(KNN Bureau)