Other

Leather safety and protective footwear with outer soles

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 11226 · WCCB OVERLAY

HSN 6403 59 90 (leather safety and protective footwear) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to applicable Indian Standards — IS 1989, IS 11226:1993, IS 14544:2022, IS 17012:2018, IS 17037:2018, and IS 17043 — is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 August 2024, by virtue of the Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024. A CITES certificate uploaded via e-Sanchit applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay for consignments involving wildlife-derived materials.

What this is

HSN code

6403 59 90

Chapter

64 · Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 11226:1993 · effective 01-08-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

WCCBWCCB·Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

Compliance steps

1
Identify the precise product type before sourcing: miners' safety boots (IS 1989 Part 1:1986), heavy metal industry boots (IS 1989 Part 2:1986), direct-moulded rubber sole (IS 11226:1993), polymeric sole (IS 14544:2022), tactical boots (IS 17012:2018), anti-riot shoes (IS 17037:2018), or service/general-purpose shoes (IS 17043 Parts 1 and 2:2024). The applicable IS determines the required CM/L scope.
Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
2
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer whose licence explicitly covers the applicable IS and the specific product variant. Verify the CM/L number, licensed IS scope, and manufacturing facility address on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
3
Ensure each article bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number on the product itself, not on packaging alone. The mark must correspond to the IS under which the CM/L was granted and must be traceable to the licensed facility.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention. Confirm the micro and small enterprise exemption does not apply to the foreign supplier under Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006.
BIS Act, 2016 · S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022 · Customs Act, 1962
5
If the consignment involves wildlife-derived leather materials, upload the CITES certificate (document code 626000) in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is processed. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau reviews this document; out-of-charge is withheld until the certificate is verified.
CITES certificate document code 626000 · e-Sanchit upload requirement per CCR PGA condition

A word of counsel

The most prevalent error on this tariff line is treating HSN 6403 59 90 as a single-standard entry and obtaining a CM/L against only IS 11226:1993, then importing a mixed consignment that contains anti-riot shoes, tactical boots, or service shoes governed by different Indian Standards. Each IS-to-product-type mapping is separate; customs will detain the portion of the consignment where the CM/L's licensed IS does not match the product type declared, even where the overall footwear heading is correct. Pre-shipment, obtain the supplier's CM/L number and verify that its licensed IS, product scope, and facility each match every line item in the purchase order.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6403 59 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. All leather safety and protective footwear under this tariff line requires a BIS CM/L under the ISI Mark Scheme against the applicable Indian Standard, with effect from 01 August 2024 under the Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

Which Indian Standard applies to a particular type of leather safety footwear?

The applicable IS depends on the product type: IS 1989 (Parts 1 and 2:1986) for miners' and heavy-metal-industry boots; IS 11226:1993 for direct-moulded rubber sole; IS 14544:2022 for polymeric sole; IS 17012:2018 for tactical boots; IS 17037:2018 for anti-riot shoes; IS 17043 (Parts 1 and 2:2024) for service and general-purpose shoes.

Are micro and small manufacturing enterprises exempt from the Quality Control Order?

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 the manufacturing unit, not to import by a trader; importers sourcing from non-licensed manufacturers remain non-compliant.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all variants and product types under this tariff line?

No. A CM/L is specific to the Indian Standard, product type, and manufacturing facility; a licence against IS 11226:1993 does not authorise import of tactical boots governed by IS 17012:2018 or service shoes under IS 17043.

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