Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has expressed his displeasure at the footwear industry for not complying with the Quality Control Order (QCO) issued in 2020. Industry players and exporters of footwear have urged the government to extend the implementation of the QCO by 12 months, stating that they are not yet prepared to follow the norms.
However, Goyal said that the government did not introduce the QCO without adequate consultations with the industry. The QCO was issued after detailed consultations with the industry, and not suo moto. The government issued three mandatory quality orders on October 27, 2020, for the leather and footwear sector. One of these orders, on protective footwear, was already implemented from January 2022, while the remaining orders will come into force from July 1 this year.
Goyal accused the industry of running a campaign against the order through the media. He said that if somebody has not yet become compliant in two-and-a-half years, it means their intentions are wrong, and there is a vested interest that the government cannot fulfill. He added that the industry had asked for two extensions, and there is no question of still not being able to comply.
The ‘Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2022’ requires manufacturers to modify their processes to comply with the new standards. This includes establishing testing laboratories, obtaining BIS licenses, and adhering to the rules for issuing the ISI mark.
The QCO is aimed at ensuring that consumers get good quality products and that the footwear industry maintains certain standards. The industry must comply with the QCO, and the government will not grant any further extensions. The QCO is not only about the quality of the products but also about the safety of consumers. Therefore, the industry should take it seriously and comply with the order without delay.