Footwear QCO Deadline Pushed to July 2027 After RAI Push; R&D Imports Get Carve-Out
DPIIT and BIS extended the Leather Footwear Quality Control Order transition by a year to 31 July 2027, giving retailers runway to liquidate non-compliant inventory. R&D imports up to 4,500 pairs annually are now exempt under conditions, easing sourcing for design and sampling cycles.
What happened
Retailers Association of India (RAI) · DPIIT and BIS extended the Leather Footwear QCO transition deadline by one year to 31 July 2027 after RAI
Key facts
- 31 July 2026
- 31 July 2027
- 4,500 pairs per year
Why this matters
The runway extension and R&D import carve-out make compliant Indian footwear manufacturers more attractive bolt-on targets, as acquirers can now structure deals with clearer transition economics through mid-2027.