Other

Ankle-covering footwear of rubber or plastics, other types

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 6721

HSN 6402 91 90 (ankle-covering footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics) is covered by Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Orders. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standard under the ISI Mark Scheme is mandatory with effect from 01 August 2024; the governing standard varies by product sub-type — IS 6721:2023 for sandals and slippers, IS 12254:2021 for PVC industrial boots, IS 16645:2018 for polyurethane boots, IS 16994:2018 for municipal scavenging footwear, IS 17012:2018 for tactical boots, IS 17037:2018 for anti-riot shoes, IS 17043 for service and general-purpose shoes, and IS 15298 for personal protective equipment footwear. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the sole Partner Government Agency; no separate customs-clearance overlay applies.

What this is

HSN code

6402 91 90

Chapter

64 · Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 6721:2023 · effective 01-08-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the exact product sub-type and map it to the governing Indian Standard before placing the purchase order: IS 6721:2023 (sandals/slippers), 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 (service shoes), IS 17043 Part 2:2024 (general-purpose shoes), IS 15298 Part 2:2016 / Part 3:2019 / Part 4:2017 (safety, protective, and 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 the licence is current, covers the specific IS number applicable to the sub-type, and lists the manufacturing facility from which the consignment originates.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 1422(E) dated 15-03-2024
3
Ensure every article in the consignment bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number on the product itself. Marking on packaging alone does not satisfy the statutory marking requirement under Scheme-I.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · BIS Act, 2016
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the applicable IS number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or IS-scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential re-export or confiscation.
S.O. 1422(E) dated 15-03-2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
5
If the importer or the foreign supplier 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 status to establish exemption eligibility under S.O. 3775(E). The BIS QCO obligation is not waived for units outside this statutory definition.
S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022; also S.O. 3880(E) dated 11-08-2022

A word of counsel

The single most common failure on this tariff line is treating the ISI Mark Scheme as a single certification covering the entire residual 'Other' category. Each footwear sub-type maps to a distinct Indian Standard — and a CM/L licence against IS 6721:2023 does not authorise importation of PVC industrial boots, tactical boots, or PPE safety footwear. Importers who submit a single CM/L at customs without verifying IS-to-product alignment face detention on the non-covered sub-types regardless of overall BIS compliance status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6402 91 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. All ankle-covering footwear of rubber or plastics falling under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard under the ISI Mark Scheme; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence against the IS specific to the product sub-type, with effect from 01 August 2024.

Which Indian Standard applies to this HSN?

Multiple standards apply depending on sub-type: IS 6721:2023 for sandals and slippers; IS 12254:2021 for PVC industrial boots; IS 16645:2018 for polyurethane general-industrial boots; IS 16994:2018 for municipal scavenging footwear; IS 17012:2018 for tactical boots; IS 17037:2018 for anti-riot shoes; IS 17043 (Parts 1 and 2) for service and general-purpose shoes; and IS 15298 (Parts 2, 3, and 4) for PPE footwear.

Are micro and small enterprises exempt from the BIS QCO obligation?

Yes, provided the enterprise qualifies as a micro or small manufacturing unit under Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, as confirmed by S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022. The exemption must be documented; units outside this definition remain subject to the full QCO requirement.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all footwear variants within this tariff line?

No. A CM/L licence is IS-specific and facility-specific; a licence against IS 6721:2023 does not cover PVC industrial boots, PPE footwear, or tactical boots. Each distinct product sub-type requires a separate CM/L against the corresponding Indian Standard.

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