Quality footwear will also be made in small companies

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With the aim of increasing the production of quality footwear, exporting and establishing Indian brands in global markets, the government has included small footwear units in the Quality Control Order (QCO). Under this, now small companies will also have to make good quality footwear. Units have been given six months to comply with the new rules, while the deadline for large manufacturers is July 1.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said after a meeting with representatives of the leather industry that the government has decided to implement the Quality Control Order (QCO) from July 1. There will be no change in this, nor will there be any extension in the time limit. Everyone is also in agreement with this decision. Small units associated with footwear will be given six months to comply with these rules.

It was also decided in the meeting that small industries investing up to Rs 50 crore annual turnover and up to Rs 10 crore will be given six months to comply with the order. Therefore, these rules will apply to them from January 1, 2024. While micro units with an annual business of less than Rs 5 crore will have to follow these standards from July 1, 2024. In the initial phase, 24 products will be included in it.

These things will be included in the new rules:

According to the Quality Control Order coming into effect from July 1, footwear manufacturers will have to revise their processes to comply with new standards. This includes establishing testing laboratories, obtaining BIS licenses and complying with ISI mark issuance rules. However, it has also been said that there is no mandatory rule for industry to establish its own testing facilities as Indian Standards Bureau will establish them across the country.

Other products will be included later on:

Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that industry has been asked to work with Indian Standards Bureau (BIS) to prepare standards for those products that are not currently covered under these standards. QCOs are being prepared for sports shoes and are likely to be implemented by January 2024. Let us tell you that for the leather and footwear sector, the government had issued three mandatory quality orders in October 2020. One of these three rules on footwear safety has been implemented from January 2022. The remaining two rules will come into effect from July 1 this year.