The Central Government has extended by one year the implementation deadline for the Quality Control Order (QCO) covering footwear made from leather and other materials, while also introducing a special exemption permitting limited imports for research and development (R&D) and other non-commercial purposes.
The move is expected to provide relief to the footwear industry by granting manufacturers additional time to comply with quality standards and facilitating access to imported products for testing, innovation and product development activities.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued the Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2026. Under the amendment, the implementation deadline specified in the earlier Quality Control Order has been extended from 31st July 2026 to 31st July 2027.
In a significant relaxation, the government has exempted imports of up to 4,500 pairs of footwear or related products per year by manufacturers engaged in leather and footwear production for research, development and other non-commercial purposes.
However, the exemption is subject to strict conditions. The imported products cannot be sold in the domestic market and must be clearly labelled ‘NOT FOR SALE’. Following their use, the goods must be disposed of as scrap.
Manufacturers availing themselves of the exemption will also be required to maintain year-wise records of such imports and furnish the information to the government whenever requested.
The amendment has been issued under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, following consultations with the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Industry observers said the extension would provide manufacturers with additional time to meet compliance requirements while enabling companies to continue product testing, innovation and research activities without disrupting commercial operations.
The original Quality Control Order covering footwear made from leather and other materials was notified in March 2024 and subsequently amended in August 2024.
