Other

Waterproof rubber or plastics footwear, other types (industrial boots, tactical boots, safety footwear)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 16645

HSN 6401 99 90 (waterproof footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics) is covered by multiple Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Orders. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standard is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, with the primary enforcement dates of 15 March 2024 and 01 August 2024 depending on the specific footwear type. No additional customs-clearance overlay applies beyond the BIS QCO obligation.

What this is

HSN code

6401 99 90

Chapter

64 · Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 16645:2018 · effective 15-03-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the specific footwear type in the consignment and map it to the correct Indian Standard before placing the purchase order: IS 12254:2021 (PVC industrial boots), IS 16645:2018 (polyurethane boots for general industrial use), IS 16994:2018 (municipal scavenging footwear), IS 17012:2018 (high-ankle tactical boots), IS 17037:2018 (anti-riot shoes), IS 17043 Part 1:2024 or Part 2:2024 (service or general-purpose shoes), or IS 15298 Part 2:2016, Part 3:2019, or Part 4:2017 (personal protective 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
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence number on the BIS online register, confirming that the licensed scope covers the specific IS standard, footwear type, size range, and manufacturing facility before shipment.
ISI Mark Scheme · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Ensure each pair of footwear in the consignment bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number in accordance with the applicable Indian Standard. Marking must appear on the product itself and not on packaging alone.
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 licence number and the applicable IS standard on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or product-scope-mismatched licence 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 importing entity is a micro or small manufacturing unit as defined under Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, document the MSME registration to claim the statutory exemption. The exemption does not extend to medium or large enterprises.
S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022; exemption clause in the Quality Control Orders as referenced by S.O. 3775(E) and S.O. 3880(E) both dated 11-08-2022

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the QCO obligation as if a single IS standard governs all waterproof rubber or plastics footwear under HSN 6401 99 90. Seven distinct Indian Standards apply across four Quality Control Orders, each with its own product-type scope; a CM/L licence against IS 16645:2018 (PU industrial boots) provides no cover for a consignment of IS 15298 Part 2:2016 safety footwear or IS 17037:2018 anti-riot shoes. The bill of entry, the CM/L licence scope, and the physical product must align on the same IS standard — failing this, customs detains the consignment regardless of the overall BIS registration status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6401 99 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Waterproof footwear with rubber or plastics uppers and outer soles under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence, pursuant to multiple Quality Control Orders including S.O. 1422(E) and S.O. 1421(E), both dated 15 March 2024.

Which Indian Standard applies to a specific footwear type under this HSN?

The standard depends on end use: IS 12254:2021 for PVC industrial boots, IS 16645:2018 for polyurethane boots for general industrial use, IS 16994:2018 for municipal scavenging footwear, IS 17012:2018 for high-ankle tactical boots, IS 17037:2018 for anti-riot shoes, IS 17043 Parts 1 and 2:2024 for service and general-purpose shoes, and IS 15298 Parts 2, 3, and 4 for safety, protective, and occupational footwear.

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

Yes. The Quality Control Orders expressly exempt micro and small manufacturing units as defined under Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006. Medium and large enterprises are not exempt and must comply in full.

Does one CM/L licence cover all footwear variants from the same manufacturer?

No. A CM/L licence is specific to the Indian Standard, footwear type, size range, and manufacturing facility; variants mapped to a different IS standard or produced at an unlicensed facility are not covered and customs will detain the consignment on a scope mismatch.

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