Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held discussions with stakeholders regarding the enforcement of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 24 footwear products starting from July 1, 2023.
The meeting focused on effective implementation strategies for these QCOs. Minister Goyal emphasized that the QCOs would be strictly enforced from July 1, 2023, for the designated 24 products.
However, manufacturers producing goods according to recently revised standards will have an additional six months, until January 1, 2024, to comply with the QCOs. Additionally, the QCOs will be applicable to small-scale industries from January 1, 2024, and to micro-scale industries from July 1, 2024.
Minister Goyal praised the QCOs for the leather industry, considering them a transformative force in the sector. During a meeting with representatives from the Indian Footwear Industry in New Delhi, he expressed his belief that the QCOs would establish India’s brand and elevate the value of Indian products. Leaders from various leather sector associations welcomed the QCOs, expressing their commitment to adopting them.
Goyal appealed to the Indian industry to collaborate with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in formulating standards for products currently not covered, so that they could also be included under the QCOs within six months of the notification of these standards. The Minister announced that the BIS would reduce testing charges by 80 percent for certified start-ups and micro industrial units producing footwear products under the QCOs.
Furthermore, Goyal disclosed an important development that, starting from June 19, 2023, the BIS would dedicate one hour on each working day for video conference interactions. He instructed the Director General of BIS, Pramod Kumar Tiwari, to widely publicize this initiative and ensure the prompt registration and response to queries and complaints. Minister Goyal urged the Indian industry to diligently implement these QCOs and manufacture and supply footwear of high quality, adhering to Indian standards, for the benefit of consumers. He emphasized the crucial role of quality and consumer satisfaction in driving the country’s economic growth. He called upon all stakeholders to collaborate in strengthening the quality ecosystem and meeting consumer expectations in the country.
