The footwear is set to become costly from August 1, as new quality standards are being enforced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). All the footwear, including slippers being sold in the market, will have to meet the new quality standards.
The updated Quality Control Order requires footwear manufacturers to follow IS 6721 And IS 10702 guidelines. Manufacturers with an annual turnover of less than Rs 50 crore have been exempted from this rule. The rule will not apply to the old stock of footwear. The sellers will have to upload the details of the old stock on the BIS website.
In all, 46 items will be covered under the new rule – raw materials used such as rexine, insole and lining will have to be tested for chemical properties. The materials used to make the outer parts will also have to pass the stringent tests of tear, strength, and flexibility.