Footwear Standards and Imports

How India's 2024 quality control orders for footwear required BIS certification, their effect on cheap imports, and the compliance burden on small makers.

In 2024, India made BIS certification mandatory for many types of footwear.

The rules

Quality control orders covered leather and non-leather footwear.
Large manufacturers had to comply from July 2024; smaller firms got more time.

Goals

Quality: stop substandard shoes.
Imports: reduce cheap imports, especially from China.

Effects

Imports of some cheap footwear fell.
Big brands adjusted relatively easily.
Small units in Agra and elsewhere faced testing costs and paperwork.

Debate

Supporters: better quality and domestic manufacturing.
Critics: burden on micro firms and higher prices.

Exemptions

Very small manufacturers were given relief or delays to ease compliance.

The small shoemaker

An Agra shoemaker with a handful of workers must now get his designs tested and certified, a new cost for his tiny business.

Thinking standards only affect imports

Domestic small makers also bear compliance costs.

Key takeaways

BIS certification became mandatory for footwear in 2024.
It aimed to improve quality and cut cheap imports.
Small units faced compliance costs.
Very small firms got relief or delays.