Of rubber sole with leather cloth uppers

Sports footwear with rubber soles and leather cloth uppers

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 3735

HSN 6404 11 20 (sports footwear with rubber soles and leather cloth uppers) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 3735:1996, IS 3736:1995, IS 15844, and IS 17043 — as applicable by product sub-type — 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. No separate customs-clearance overlay applies beyond the BIS obligation.

What this is

HSN code

6404 11 20

Chapter

64 · Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 3735 · effective 01-08-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the correct Indian Standard for the specific product sub-type before sourcing: IS 3735:1996 for canvas shoes with rubber soles; IS 3736:1995 for canvas boots with rubber soles; IS 15844 (Part 1/2/3):2023–2024 for general-purpose, performance, or professional sports footwear; IS 17043 (Part 1/2):2024 for service or general-purpose shoes.
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 holding a current licence against the applicable IS standard. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
3
Ensure every pair 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 · Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L 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 scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential re-export or confiscation.
BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
5
If the manufacturer is a micro or small enterprise as defined under Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, document the exemption basis with the Udyam registration certificate. The BIS QCO obligation does not apply to such units.
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 applying a single IS standard to all footwear in the consignment when the shipment contains multiple product sub-types — each sub-type (canvas shoes, canvas boots, general sports footwear, performance sports footwear, professional sports footwear, service shoes) maps to a distinct IS standard with its own CM/L scope. A CM/L licence against IS 3735:1996 does not cover product variants governed by IS 15844 or IS 17043; customs will detain units whose IS standard is not covered by the declared CM/L number, even where other units in the same consignment are compliant.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 6404 11 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Goods 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 pursuant to the Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

Which Indian Standard applies to sports footwear with rubber soles and leather cloth uppers?

The applicable standard depends on sub-type: IS 3735:1996 (canvas shoes), IS 3736:1995 (canvas boots), IS 15844 Part 1/2/3 (general, performance, or professional sports footwear), or IS 17043 Part 1/2 (service or general-purpose shoes). Each sub-type requires a separate CM/L licence covering that standard.

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

Yes. Micro and small manufacturing units as defined under Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 are exempt by virtue of S.O. 3775(E) dated 11-08-2022. The exemption applies to the manufacturing unit, not to the importer sourcing from a non-exempt manufacturer.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all footwear variants in a mixed consignment?

No. Each CM/L licence is scope-specific to the IS standard, product sub-type, and manufacturing facility. Variants outside the licensed scope — including those governed by a different IS number — are not covered, and customs will detain those units regardless of the CM/L status of other units in the consignment.

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