Footwear Industry Appeals for Government Intervention to Support MSMEs Amid Concerns Over BIS Standards
The footwear industry has voiced its concerns over the recently introduced quality standards, making Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandatory for all types of footwear except Hawai slippers, sandals, and sports shoes, which will be exempted until December 31, 2023. According to the industry, the current standards and implementation directions lack scientific basis and practicality. This has raised worries among the sector, primarily comprising Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as compliance with these standards may lead to the closure of numerous MSME units, leaving only a handful of organized and multinational businesses to survive.While the footwear industry is not against adhering to quality standards, it believes that the current BIS standards are not well-suited to the diverse range of footwear products in the market. For instance, one standard has…
