Footwear Manufacturers in Indore Seek BIS Exemption: Impact and Concerns
In a recent development, footwear manufacturers in Indore have come together to stage a protest, demanding exemption from the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for footwear. Their concerns primarily revolve around the potential economic impact and feasibility of these standards.The protesting manufacturers have appealed to the government to exclude specific categories of footwear, particularly those falling within the economical range. This includes general-purpose sandals, slippers, school shoes, and those made from recycled materials. They argue that imposing BIS standards on such products could increase operational costs by over 50%, particularly for footwear made from recycled materials.Girish Punjabi, the President of the Madhya Pradesh Footwear Manufacturer Association, emphasized that the existing BIS standards do not adequately consider the production process, the types of raw materials used, or the various…