Other

Waterproof ankle-high rubber or plastics footwear, covering ankle but not knee

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 16994

HSN 6401 92 90 (waterproof ankle-high footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics) is covered by Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Orders. Multiple Indian Standards apply depending on the specific footwear type — IS 16994:2018 for municipal scavenging footwear, IS 12254:2021 for PVC industrial boots, IS 16645:2018 for polyurethane boots, IS 17012:2018 for tactical boots, IS 17037:2018 for anti-riot shoes, IS 17043 for service and general-purpose shoes, and IS 15298 (Parts 2, 3, and 4) for personal protective equipment footwear — all mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 August 2024.

What this is

HSN code

6401 92 90

Chapter

64 · Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 16994 · effective 01-08-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the specific IS applicable to the footwear type before sourcing: IS 12254:2021 for PVC industrial boots, IS 16645:2018 for PU boots, IS 16994:2018 for municipal scavenging footwear, IS 17012:2018 for tactical boots, IS 17037:2018 for anti-riot shoes, IS 17043 (Part 1 or Part 2) for service or general-purpose shoes, or IS 15298 (Part 2, 3, or 4) for safety, protective, or occupational footwear.
Footwear Made from All-Rubber and All-Polymeric Material and its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1422(E) dated 15-03-2024; Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024; Personal Protective Equipment — Footwear (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2021 · S.O. 3857(E) dated 27-10-2020
2
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against the specific IS applicable to the footwear type. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility address on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 1422(E) dated 15-03-2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
3
Ensure every pair bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself, traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility.
BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, Scheme-I of Schedule-II · S.O. 1422(E) dated 15-03-2024
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the specific IS standard on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched CM/L triggers consignment detention.
BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962 · S.O. 1422(E) dated 15-03-2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
5
If the importer is a micro or small manufacturing unit as defined in Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, document the MSME exemption basis. The exemption does not apply to trading importers or large manufacturers.
S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating HSN 6401 92 90 as a single-IS obligation when the QCO regime maps up to ten distinct Indian Standards to overlapping product types within this one tariff code. A CM/L licence is IS-specific and product-scope-specific; a supplier licensed against IS 16994:2018 for municipal scavenging boots is not thereby licensed for tactical boots (IS 17012:2018) or PPE safety footwear (IS 15298 Part 2). Importers who mix footwear types across a single CM/L reference face detention at port when Customs cross-checks the licensed product scope against the consignment's technical description.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6401 92 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. All footwear under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard and bear the ISI mark under a CM/L licence, under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 August 2024, by virtue of the Footwear Made from All-Rubber and All-Polymeric Material and its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024 and related QCOs.

Which Indian Standard applies to my specific footwear type?

IS 16994:2018 covers municipal scavenging footwear; IS 12254:2021 covers PVC industrial boots; IS 16645:2018 covers PU boots; IS 17012:2018 covers high-ankle tactical boots; IS 17037:2018 covers anti-riot shoes; IS 17043 (Part 1 or Part 2) covers service or general-purpose shoes; IS 15298 (Part 2, 3, or 4) covers PPE safety, protective, or occupational footwear.

Are micro and small enterprises exempt from the BIS QCO under this HSN?

Yes. Micro and small manufacturing units as defined in Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 are exempt per S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022. The exemption does not extend to trading importers or enterprises above the small-unit threshold.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all footwear types a manufacturer produces?

No. A CM/L licence is IS-specific and product-scope-specific; a licence against IS 16994:2018 does not authorise supply of tactical boots under IS 17012:2018 or PPE footwear under IS 15298. Verify each product type against its specific licensed IS and scope on the BIS register.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-18. Source: BIS / Indian Customs CUSDATA.