Other footwear, incorporating a protective metal toe-cap

Leather safety footwear with protective metal toe-cap

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 15298

HSN 6403 40 00 (leather safety footwear with a protective metal toe-cap) is covered by two Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Orders. Conformity to a suite of Indian Standards — including IS 1989 (Parts 1 and 2), IS 3976:2018, IS 11226:1993, IS 14544:2022, IS 15298 (Parts 2, 3 and 4), and others — is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 August 2024, determined by the specific footwear application. No separate customs-clearance overlay applies beyond BIS.

What this is

HSN code

6403 40 00

Chapter

64 · Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 15298 · effective 01-08-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the precise application of the imported footwear — miners' boots, heavy metal industry boots, direct-moulded rubber sole, tactical boots, anti-riot shoes, service shoes, or PPE safety/protective/occupational footwear — as each application maps to a distinct Indian Standard. Match the consignment's product-type to the correct IS before placing the purchase order.
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 against the specific IS applicable to the consignment's footwear type. Confirm the licensed scope covers the exact product variant, size range, and manufacturing facility; an IS 3976:2018 licence does not cover IS 1989 (Part 1) product, and vice versa.
Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Ensure every pair of footwear bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number per Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself — on the insole or tongue label — not only on outer packaging.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the applicable IS citation on the bill of entry. Customs verifies CM/L validity and licensed product scope in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched CM/L triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential confiscation.
BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962 · 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 exemption basis. The BIS QCO obligation does not apply to such units; the exemption documentation must accompany the bill of entry.
S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022 · Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the BIS QCO as a single-IS obligation and sourcing a CM/L against one standard — typically IS 15298 (Part 2) — while importing multiple footwear types, each governed by a separate IS. A CM/L against IS 15298 (Part 2) does not authorise import of miners' boots under IS 1989 (Part 1) or tactical boots under IS 17012:2018; customs' real-time register check matches the product description on the bill of entry against the licensed IS, and a mismatch on any line item triggers detention of the entire consignment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6403 40 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. All leather safety footwear with a protective metal toe-cap requires conformity to the applicable Indian Standard and an ISI mark from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer, with effect from 01 August 2024, under S.O. 1421(E) and S.O. 3857(E).

Which Indian Standard applies to this HSN?

The applicable IS depends on the footwear's end-use: IS 1989 (Part 1) for miners' leather safety boots, IS 1989 (Part 2) for heavy metal industry boots, IS 3976:2018 for miners' safety boots, IS 11226:1993 for direct-moulded rubber sole, IS 14544:2022 for direct-moulded polymeric sole, IS 17012:2018 for tactical boots, IS 17037:2018 for anti-riot shoes, IS 17043 (Part 1 and Part 2) for service and general-purpose shoes, and IS 15298 (Parts 2, 3, and 4) for PPE safety, protective, and occupational footwear.

Are micro and small manufacturing units exempt from the BIS QCO on this HSN?

Yes. Micro and small manufacturing units as defined under 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 applies to importing entities qualifying under that definition; it does not exempt other importers sourcing from such units.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all footwear variants under this HSN?

No. Each CM/L is IS-specific and scope-specific by product type, size range, and manufacturing facility. A supplier licensed under IS 15298 (Part 2) is not authorised to supply product classified under IS 3976:2018 or IS 1989 (Part 1) without a separate licence for each standard.

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