BIS certification for footwear- Overview, Procedure, Documents, Govt. Fee

The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified that footwear manufacturing units, including foreign manufacturing units exporting footwear to India, must obtain BIS certification for footwear to ensure the quality and safety of footwear products. The Footwear Quality Control Order (QCO), which comes into effect on August 1, 2024, requires footwear manufacturers to comply with the new quality guidelines of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This order prohibits manufacturers from producing shoes without a BIS certificate. Failure to comply with the BIS regulations may result in criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and heavy fines. BIS certification is only granted to manufacturers, not traders or retailers involved in marketing or distribution. Manufacturers operating in multiple locations must apply for a BIS License for each production unit. 

The BIS department also grants BIS registration for footwear to foreign manufacturers except for manufacturers in China under the “Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS)”.  Without the ISI mark on footwear, no company can manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store, or exhibit footwear covered under BIS certification in India. The ISI mark on footwear is a certification mark issued by BIS and is a symbol of quality and compliance with standards. The BIS certification process involves testing samples for compliance with specific standards set by BIS. BIS certification ensures that all types of footwear, including safety, sports, casual, derby, sandals, slippers, rubber Hawai chappals, etc., meet the prescribed BIS standards.

The BIS issued three quality control orders regarding rubber/polymeric footwear, leather footwear, and PPE footwear in the mandatory certification scheme:

1. Personal Protective Equipment Footwear (Quality Control) Order, 2020
2. Footwear made from All Rubber and all Polymeric Material and its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024
3. Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024

Footwear products covered under BIS certification as per applicable BIS standards:

A manufacturer of footwear covered under different BIS standards must apply for BIS certification separately for each type

IS 6721: 2023	PVC Sandals and Slippers
IS 10702: 2023	Rubber Hawai Chappal
IS 17043: 2018	Derby shoes
IS 17043 (PART 2): 2024	Shoes for general purposes
IS 15844 (PART 1): 2023	Sports footwear is for general purposes, such as fitness, exercising, walking, and light sports activities.
IS 15844 (PART 2): 2023	Performance sports footwear – jogging, running (including trail running), adventure sports, trekking, climbing, etc.
IS 15844 (PART 3): 2023	Professional sports footwear
IS 3736: 1995	Canvas boots with rubber soles
IS 3735: 1996	Canvas shoes, rubber soles, Canvas Shoes (School PT shoes), and other similar shoes
IS 14544: 2018	Leather safety footwear with a directly molded PVC sole
IS 15298 (Part-4): 2017	Personal Protective Equipment Part 4: Occupational footwear
IS 15298(Part-2): 2016	Personal protective equipment Part 2: Safety footwear
IS 15298 (Part-3): 2018	Personal Protective Equipment Part-3 Protective footwear
IS 12254: 2016	PVC Industrial boots
IS 13995: 2018	Unlined molded rubber boots
IS 5676: 2016	Molded Rubber Soles and Heels
IS 17012: 2018	High ankle tactical boots with PU rubber sole, High ankle industrial boots
IS 1989 (Part 1): 2016	Leather safety boots & shoes for miners—miners-— Leather Safety Shoes
IS 11226: 2018	Leather safety footwear with a directly molded rubber sole
IS 17037: 2018	Antiriot shoes
IS 16645: 2018	Molded plastic footwear—lined or Unlined polyurethane boots for general industrial use
IS 5557: 2018	Industrial & protective rubber knee & ankle boots
IS 16994: 2018	Footwear for men and women for municipal scavenging work—Scavenging shoes
IS 3976: 2018	Safety rubber canvas boots for miners
IS 13893: 2018	Polyurethane sole, semirigid

Documents required to apply for BIS certification for footwear:

• Company incorporation certificate
• GST and MSME certificate
• Brand name or trademark registration
• Manufacturing Flow Chart
• Plant Layout
• List of the machinery and raw materials
• Rent agreement, lease deed, or ownership deed, etc.
• Images of the products
• Aadhar card and qualification proof of the Quality control person
• Test report of the products from BIS-approved labs.
• List of the testing equipment (exempted for micro-unit as per MSME)

Govt. Fee for BIS Registration for Footwear:

• Application fee: 1,000/-
• Annual fee: 1,000/-
• BIS inspection fee: 7,000/-
• Minimum marking fee: As applicable (To know more, click here.)
• BIS testing fee: As applicable

Concession in the Government Fee for New Startups and MSME Units:

Concession in the minimum marking fee (govt. fee) for new startups and MSME units.

In-house testing equipment installation requirements:

Micro and small enterprises are exempted from installing an in-house testing laboratory to apply for BIS certification for footwear.

Validity of the BIS License:

365 days

Step-by-step procedure to apply for BIS certification for footwear:

1. Pre-testing of the footwear from a third-party laboratory approved by BIS.
2. Fill out the application along with the requisite documents.
3. Payment of the government fee.
4. Scrutiny of the application.
5. The BIS officer will conduct a factory inspection.
6. During factory inspection, some samples will be sealed by the BIS officer.
7. Submission of the samples to the concerned BIS lab for further testing.
8. Grant of the BIS License to the manufacturer.

BIS License delivery period:

30 to 45 days

Testing Parameters for BIS certification for footwear:

These parameters include material composition, physical properties, and chemical resistance, among others.

1. Material Composition: Determine the types and proportions of various materials used in footwear, including leather, plastics, rubber, adhesives, and other components.
2. Physical Properties: Evaluate the physical properties of materials, including flexural strength, abrasion resistance, tear strength, and water absorption.
3. Chemical Resistance: Testing the resistance of footwear materials to various acids, such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. Evaluating alkaline solutions such as sodium hydroxide. Testing the resistance of footwear materials to various solvents, such as acetone.
4. Dimension and Shape: Check the footwear dimensions and shape to ensure it meets your standards. 
5. Durability, comfort, and Longevity: Evaluate durability and longevity, and evaluate comfort and fit to improve your comfort.

Benefits of BIS certification for footwear:

• BIS certification is crucial in regulating footwear quality, durability, and safety in the Indian market. It offers many benefits to both consumers and manufacturers.
• BIS certification is mandatory for selling footwear in India. It ensures compliance with legal requirements and enables participation in tenders and contracts. Adherence to safety standards protects the manufacturer’s interests by reducing the risk of product recalls, consumer complaints, and litigation.
• BIS-certified footwear undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that it meets predefined quality standards. This certification ensures durability and comfort for the consumer.
• BIS certification ensures that Indian footwear complies with global standards and makes it easier for manufacturers to export their products internationally.
• BIS-certified footwear meets safety measures like slip resistance, durability, chemical safety, etc., avoiding any harm to the user.
• The Government of India has made BIS certification for footwear mandatory for certain types of footwear under the Quality Control Ordinance (QCO). Non-compliance may result in legal sanctions and restrictions.
• The ISI mark on footwear is a mark of trust and encourages customers to choose certified products over non-certified ones.

Who should obtain BIS certification for footwear?

• A BIS certificate for footwear is granted to the manufacturing facility where the final manufacturing activity takes place and not to the brand that launches or designs the product. Further, BIS issues specific licenses for each type of footwear based on its classification as per the relevant Indian standards even if different variations of footwear are covered by the same Indian standards and licenses. For example, if a manufacturing unit manufactures different types of footwear like safety shoes, sandals, sports shoes, rubber Hawaii chappals, etc., it is important to obtain separate licenses for each footwear as per applicable Indian standards. Therefore, manufacturers are advised to classify footwear correctly as per the relevant product manual issued for each footwear.
• It is mandatory for domestic and foreign footwear manufacturers supplying to the Indian market to obtain BIS certification for footwear. Importers, distributors, retailers, etc., are not required to obtain a BIS license for footwear, but before buying and selling footwear covered under the mandatory BIS certification scheme, they must check whether the manufacturer has a valid BIS license.
• Footwear manufacturers who have multiple units with different factory locations will have to apply BIS certification for footwear for each unit, even if they manufacture the same footwear product

Conclusion:

To summarize, obtaining a BIS license is a complex and time-consuming process and involves a number of crucial steps for any business unit, such as the development of footwear as per the relevant Indian standards, preparation of documents, and on-site factory verification of the manufacturer’s competence to manufacture and test footwear. Therefore, hiring a consultant with expertise in the BIS licensing process is advised.

Max Solution Consulting Services is a leading consultancy firm that assists in developing footwear as per BIS standards, offers documentation support, and helps you understand the specific requirements of the ISI certification process to ensure your application is complete and meets all required standards. Our team of experts has in-depth knowledge of the regulatory environment, government policies and procedures, and the roles of various government agencies.