QCOs implementation in the footwear sector – Import of footwear soles – Notification issued by Govt of India – Procedures
No. CLE-HO/ PTLM / BIS / 2023-24
8th September 2023
To: All Members of the Council
Dear Sirs / Madam,
As members are aware, the Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for Footwear Sector is currently under implementation for notified footwear products from 01.07.2023 and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) shall be the certifying and enforcing authority for the goods or articles mentioned in the QCO Orders. The notified footwear products cannot be sold / traded in domestic market or imported into India, without a BIS license.
In the Quality Control Order (QCO) No.4670001-2022- Leather dated: 03.06.2022, Footwear made from all Rubber and all Polymeric material and its components (Quality Control) Order, 2022, apart from the Footwear (finished products), four items of footwear soles (components) have been included under QCOs. As the inclusion of footwear soles in the QCOs will have its adverse impact on the footwear exports industry while importing the items for export purposes, the CLE has taken up the matter with authorities concerned in the Government of India and requested them to allow the import clearance of footwear soles meant for production or assembly of footwear for export purpose.
In this background, we wish to inform that the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India has issued the Order dated 1st September 2023 and the Order was published in the Gazette of India dated 4th September 2023. The said Gazette Notification and the Order are attached herewith for your reference. In terms of the said Order, four items of the footwear soles given in the Table, are permitted for import clearance for the purpose of production or assembling of footwear for exports, based on the self-declaration by the Importer and certification by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) as per the details mentioned in the order.
Accordingly, the following are internal procedures devised by CLE to provide certification to the importers:
- The applicant unit will prepare a ‘self-declaration’ in its Letter Head duly mentioning the particulars as per format attached.
- The applicant unit will submit the above ‘self-declaration’ along with a covering Letter addressed to the nearest Regional Office / Extension Office of the CLE by E-mail, explaining the import particulars as per format
- In order to meet the administrative expenses involved in providing certification, the CLE has fixed ‘service charges’ @ 1% of the CIF value as per Invoice / Bill of Entry + 18% GST. However, minimum service charges would be Rs.5000 + 18% GST. This is payable via Bank Transfer or instant money transfer to the bank account of CLE as mentioned below (or through Debit card / Credit card / G Pay directly at the Regional / Extension Office concerned).
| Customer ID | 5219031810 |
| Account Title | COUNCIL FOR LEATHER EXPORTS |
| Account Number | 60003456780 |
| Bank Name | IDFC FIRST Bank Limited |
| Branch Address | CHENNAI – NUNGAMBAKKAM BRANCH |
| Bank IFSC code | IDFB0080102 |
Members may kindly take note and approach nearest Regional / Extension Offices of CLE if you have any import consignment of footwear soles to be cleared from Customs.
With warm regards,
R. SELVAM, IAS
Executive Director
Council for Leather Exports
CLE Circular_Footwear Soles Import 08.09.2023