Quality Control Amendment Order 2023 for Footwear Made from all Rubber and all Polymeric Material and its Components

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued the "Footwear Made from All Rubber and All Polymeric Material and Its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2023" to enforce stringent quality standards for these products in India. This Order is effective from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. According to this Order, the following exemptions apply after the commencement of the Quality Control Amendment Order, 2023, specifically for the import of goods or articles listed below used in the manufacturing of footwear in India for export purposes only:

Moulded solid rubber soles and heels - IS 5676:1995

Rubber microcellular sheets for soles and heels - IS 6664:1992

Solid PVC soles and heels - IS 6719:1972

Polyurethane sole, semi-rigid - IS 13893:1994

Importers are required to furnish a self-declaration certified by the Council for Leather Exports before import consignments of footwear soles receive import clearance at customs, as follows:

The importer must declare that the imported footwear soles are solely for the production or assembly of footwear for export and not for sale in the domestic market. This declaration should be on the importer's letterhead, including the invoice number and other relevant details, ensuring that the imported items will not be used or sold in the domestic market except for manufacturing footwear for export. The company must maintain internal records for future verification or audit by concerned authorities.

The Council must certify that the importer is a registered manufacturer exporter, providing the currently valid Registration-cum-Membership Certificate number and date, Udyam Registration Certificate number and date, and the Bill of Entry for home consumption number and date filed in the Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange system for import clearance.

Importers must upload the above documents along with other relevant documents in the Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange portal to ensure smooth customs clearance of the footwear soles.

This amendment aims to maintain high-quality standards for footwear components while facilitating the manufacturing and export process for registered exporters.