BIS Certification for Footwear

In a recent notification, the Department for promotion of industry and internal trade stated that footwear manufacturers are required to obtain BIS certification. If the manufacturer wants to sell leather-based footwear, he must obtain the ISI certification for the same. The notification clearly states that if any footwear manufacturer sells his product without any BIS certification, he will attract criminal charges that shall result in imprisonment and heft fines. The notification extends to leather footwear, anti-riot shoes, safety boots and other accessories.

The government issued three quality control orders for the BIS certification for footwear in 2020. These are:

1. For footwear created from Leather and other materials
2. For footwear created from Rubber and polymeric material
3. Personal protective equipment (footwear)

List of Standards for BIS certification process for Footwear

Documents required for the BIS certification process for footwear

• Documents that state the legal identity of the firm, i.e. (partnership firm, certificate of incorporation etc.)
• Flowchart showing the manufacturing process of the footwear. This must include in-process control of all the stages including the ones that are being outsourced.
• Consent letter to be obtained from BIS recognised labs to carry out the test.
• Documents for undertaking and declaration
• Drawing of the product and its components
• Location plan of the factory
• Layout plan of the factory
• Copies of Certificates from quality control personnel
• Copies of Test certification of Raw Materials
• Machinery Details of the manufacturing unit
• Certificates of calibration certificates of Testing equipment- this should be created latest three months from the date if the application
• Documents for address proof of the premises
• Test equipment details
• Documents for hygienic conditions

The process to obtain BIS certification for footwear Manufacturers

• Select the Indian standard for the product
• The applicant must identify the Indian standard for the product. After this proceed to the official website of the Bureau of Indian Standards^[1] and create your BIS account.
• A page will open for BIS Guest Registration. Provide all the necessary information as required and click on the submit button.
• Carefully go through the Indian standard against your product. Make sure your product meets the requirement for those standards.
• The process of manufacturing and testing should also align with the BIS Standard.
• In case the factory does not have appropriate testing facilities or sophisticated equipment, then BIS can permit the manufacturers to complete the tests through BIS-recognised labs.

• Login into Manak Portal
  • The applicant must log on to the Manakonline portal and create an account. Once the account is created, then apply for a license through this.
• Choose Indian standard
  • The applicant has to select from 27 standards available in the footwear category.
  • In case the ISI registration is for multiple products, then a separate application has to be made for each of the product
  • Further, two modes are available to the applicant. These are:
    • Normal Procedure

The manufacturer can apply for the license without getting the product tested by BIS-recognised labs. However, in this case, the license shall be granted to the applicant after the officials conduct the inspection and check the test reports.

• Simplified procedure:

In this case, the manufacturer must get his product tested by BIS recognised lab as per the applicable standards. Then a complete application can be filed with the test report results. During the inspection, only a verification sample shall be drawn, and a license shall be granted after the test of the sample collected.

• Provide the following details:

The applicant needs to update the following information:

• Raw materials used
  • Location of the factory
  • Process of manufacturing
  • Details of machinery
  • Plant layout
  • Details of testing personnel

After this, the applicant must pay the requisite BIS registration fee.

If the applicant has opted for “simplified procedure”, then the documents for test reports issued by BIS recognised labs also have to be uploaded.

If the manual/scheme for testing the product is not available, then the applicant must inform about the same to the concerned Branch office of the BIS.

• Respond to the queries raised by the BIS Once the steps mentioned above are completed, then an application number shall be generated in the communication window of Manak Portal. If the BIS has any queries, then the applicant must respond to these queries immediately. Select the Date of Factory Inspection
• The BIS will provide a proposed date of factory inspection.
• The applicant must confirm the date within 10 days of filing the application.
• If the applicant fails to do so, then the application can be rejected.

Make payment for BIS license

• Case 1: after receiving the satisfactory test reports and with no pending action from BIS officials. The process for grant of license shall be initiated.
  • Case 2: After the factory inspection, and there is no action pending, then BIS shall initiate the application for a grant of license.
  • Once payment is received, a new license number is created and provided to the applicant.
• Grant of license
• Once the license is granted, then the applicant needs to follow the scheme of inspection and testing the terms after obtaining the BIS license.
• BIS will conduct periodic factory inspections and market surveillance activities after giving the license. The applicant must ensure that it extends to all the cooperation and assistance to BIS officers.

Conclusion: The government has made it mandatory to get BIS certification for footwear. BIs certification ensures that good quality products are provided to the consumers. The certification process makes that appropriate testing measures are carried out so that it does not end up being hazardous to the buyers.

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