Footwear QCOs amended: legacy stock window to July 2027
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DPIIT amended two footwear Quality Control Orders on 12 June 2026. Legacy stock may now be cleared until 31 July 2027 instead of 31 July 2026. Manufacturers may import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear a year for research and development, marked NOT FOR SALE and later disposed as scrap.
- Notified
- 12 Jun 2026; PIB 9 Jul 2026, DPIIT / Commerce
- Orders
- Leather and other materials QCO 2024; all-rubber/polymeric QCO 2024
- Gazette
- S.O. 3038(E) and S.O. 3037(E)
- Legacy stock
- clearance extended to 31 Jul 2027
- R&D samples
- up to 4,500 pairs a year; not for sale
- Marking
- prominently marked and embossed “NOT FOR SALE”
Footwear Quality Control Order amendments: what happened?
BIS quality orders for footwear force the market onto certified products. Seasonal stock often sits longer than one selling cycle. DPIIT gave traders more time to clear old inventory and let factories import limited samples for design work without treating them as commercial imports.
- Legacy stock window moved from 31 July 2026 to 31 July 2027.
- R&D import cap: 4,500 pairs a year for non-commercial use.
- Samples cannot be sold; must be marked NOT FOR SALE; disposed as scrap after use; year-wise records to Government on demand.
Which QCOs were amended?
- Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024.
- Footwear made from All Rubber and all Polymeric Material and its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024.
Why does footwear Quality Control Order amendments matter?
- Compliance: Gives one more year to liquidate pre-QCO stock orderly.
- Innovation: Limited sample imports support design and vendor checks.
What can Prelims ask on footwear Quality Control Order amendments?
- Footwear QCO amendments: S.O. 3037(E) and 3038(E), 12 Jun 2026.
- Legacy stock clearance till 31 Jul 2027.
- R&D samples: up to 4,500 pairs/year; NOT FOR SALE; scrap after use.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-07-09): DPIIT amended footwear Quality Control Orders, extending legacy stock clearance to 31 Jul 2027 and allowing up to 4,500 R&D samples a year.
- QCOs raise quality but can strain small firms, hence the extra time.
Quotable data pointDPIIT amended footwear Quality Control Orders, extending legacy stock clearance to 31 Jul 2027 and allowing up to 4,500 R&D samples a year.
PIB: DPIIT: footwear QCO amendments, 9 Jul 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: QCOs.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
DPIIT's 2026 footwear QCO amendment extends legacy stock clearance to
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (Commerce), 9 Jul 2026.
Questions students ask about this
Until when can legacy footwear stock be cleared?
Until 31 July 2027.
How many R&D sample pairs may be imported in a year?
Up to 4,500 pairs for research and development and other non-commercial purposes.
Can those samples be sold?
No. They must be marked NOT FOR SALE and disposed of as scrap after use.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: DPIIT: footwear QCO amendments, 9 Jul 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending