Other

Sports footwear with textile uppers (tennis shoes, gym shoes, training shoes)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 3735

HSN 6404 11 90 (sports footwear with outer soles of rubber or plastics and textile uppers) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standard is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 August 2024, under the Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024. No separate customs-clearance overlay applies beyond BIS.

What this is

HSN code

6404 11 90

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 applicable Indian Standard for the specific footwear type before placing the purchase order: IS 3735:1996 for canvas shoes with rubber sole; IS 3736:1995 for canvas boots with rubber sole; IS 15844 (Part 1):2023 for general-purpose sports footwear; IS 15844 (Part 2):2023 for performance sports footwear; IS 15844 (Part 3):2024 for professional sports footwear.
Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024
2
Verify the foreign supplier's BIS CM/L licence number on the BIS online register against the correct IS number and part. The CM/L must cover the specific footwear category, the licensed manufacturing facility, and the size range being imported. A licence against IS 15844 (Part 1) does not cover IS 15844 (Part 2) or (Part 3) product.
Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1421(E) dated 15-03-2024 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Ensure every pair bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number as required under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself; marking on packaging alone does not satisfy the statutory requirement.
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 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 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 exemption basis. The BIS QCO obligation does not apply to such units; retain the MSME registration evidence with the import file.
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 seven applicable Indian Standards as interchangeable under a single CM/L licence. Each IS — and each part of IS 15844 and IS 17043 — is a distinct licensed scope; a supplier holding a CM/L against IS 15844 (Part 1) for general-purpose sports footwear is not licensed to supply performance or professional sports footwear under Parts 2 or 3. Importers who do not verify part-level scope alignment at the purchase-order stage face detention on arrival when customs cross-checks the CM/L product scope against the goods description on the bill of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6404 11 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Sports footwear with textile uppers under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence, with effect from 01 August 2024, under the Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

Which Indian Standard applies to my specific footwear type?

IS 3735:1996 covers canvas shoes with rubber sole; IS 3736:1995 covers canvas boots with rubber sole; IS 15844 (Part 1):2023, (Part 2):2023, and (Part 3):2024 cover general-purpose, performance, and professional sports footwear respectively. Confirm the applicable standard against the product specification before procurement.

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

Yes. The Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 excludes micro and small manufacturing units as defined in Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006. The exemption applies to the manufacturer, not to the importer sourcing from a non-exempt facility.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all footwear variants from the same supplier?

No. Each CM/L is specific to the Indian Standard, part number, product category, and licensed manufacturing facility. Variants falling outside the licensed scope — including different IS parts or a different plant — are not covered and will be detained at customs.

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