Indian Standards for Sports Footwear IS 15844

Indian standards for Sports Footwear IS 15844 covers the following variety:

• Part-1: General Purpose (Fitness, exercising, walking and light sports activities)
• Part-2: Performance Sports Footwear (Jogging, Running including Trail Running, adventure sport, trekking, climbing and etc.)
• Part-3: Professional Sports Footwear

Mandatory QCO of Sports Footwear

Ministry of Commerce and Industry vide notification S.O. 2599 (E) dated 03 June 2022 published in Gazette of India, Extraordinary has made BIS certification mandatory for sports footwear as per IS 15844 w.e.f. 01 July 2023, for details please click QCO on Footwear

After the said date no person can import, distribute, sell, store or exhibit for sale sports footwear without ISI Mark (BIS Certification). It is mandatory for footwear manufacturers and importers to obtain a BIS certificate/licence of footwear in order to use the standard ISI mark on footwear. Footwear without the ISI mark is not permitted to be sold in the country.

What is Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India’s National Standards Body established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number of ways – providing safe reliable quality goods; minimizing health hazards to consumers; promoting exports and imports substitute; control over proliferation of varieties etc. through standardization, certification and testing. It is responsible for setting and promoting standards in areas such as product quality, safety, and environmental sustainability.

BIS Certification Scheme

Scheme – I of Schedule – II of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 provides for product certification leading to use of ISI mark on the products.

BIS certification for any product is a complex and time-consuming process that begins with product development and validation and continues through the BIS certification process. Bureau grants a licence based on a successful assessment of the manufacturer’s manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, quality control, and testing capabilities during a visit to its manufacturing facilities. BIS certification can be obtained following two different procedures viz Normal Procedure and Simplified Procedure. BIS has categorized products which fall under these two categories of product certification.

BIS Certification Process

• The product must meet the relevant Indian Standard Specification (IS 15844)
• BIS license is only given to the factory (manufacturer of finished products), not to the Distributor/Retailer
• If a manufacturer has multiple factories, each of which is located at a distinct geographical address, the business must file a separate application for each product and factory location
• The laboratory should be fully equipped with product testing equipment as well as qualified quality control personnel to test the product in accordance IS 15844
• All production machinery and testing facilities should be located in the factory premises as per ISS norms and respective Scheme of Inspection and testing (SIT)
• All production processes should be completed in the same factory, from receiving raw materials to final packing. If any out-sourcing is required, clearance from the Bureau may be requested

BIS Certification Process for Indian Manufacturers

• Registration: Manufacturer needs to register online on BIS portal and provide inputs as solicited and complete the profile
• Testing: The manufacturer is then required to submit the samples as per grouping guidelines to the BIS recognized lab through BIS portal and seek test report from the concerned laboratory as per IS 15844
• Application: The manufacturer submits an online application to BIS for certification, along with the relevant documents such as company profile, raw material and product details, test reports, and fees. The application must be complete and accurate, and the manufacturer must demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria for certification
• Document Review: BIS reviews the application and the accompanying documents including test reports to ensure that the manufacturer meets the eligibility criteria for certification. The documents are checked for accuracy and completeness, and BIS may ask for additional information or clarification if needed
• Inspection: BIS certification officer conducts an Inspection at the manufacturer’s facilities and verifies the production processes, testing facilities etc to ascertain the manufacturing and testing infrastructure of the applicant in compliance with IS 15844. Thereafter the samples are drawn for testing in independent laboratory
• Testing of Verification Sample: The verification samples drawn during inspection are submitted to laboratory to confirm the conformance to IS 15844
• Grant of Licence: Based on documents submitted by the manufacturer and based on the satisfactory Inspection by BIS, the licence is granted to the manufacturer and the manufacturer is allowed to affix the Standard Mark on their products
• Ongoing Surveillance: BIS may conduct regular surveillance audits to ensure that the manufacturer continues to comply with the relevant Indian Standards and maintain the quality of their products

Requirements for BIS Licence for Foreign Manufacturer

Requirements for obtaining BIS certification by foreign manufacturers is same except that foreign manufacturers cannot exercise the simplified method of certification.

• Representative in India: The manufacturer must have a representative in India who can act as the liaison between the manufacturer and BIS. This representative is responsible for communication and coordination with BIS and must be authorized to make decisions on behalf of the manufacturer
• Application: The manufacturer submits an offline application to BIS for certification, along with the relevant documents such as raw material and product details, manufacturing machinery, qualified testing personnel and other applicable documents, and fees. The application must be complete and accurate, and the manufacturer must demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria for certification
• Document Review: BIS reviews the application and the accompanying documents to ensure that the manufacturer meets the eligibility criteria for certification. The documents are checked for accuracy and completeness, and BIS may ask for additional information or clarification if needed
• Certification Audit / Inspection: BIS conducts a certification audit/inspection of the manufacturer’s facilities to verify the production processes, testing infrastructure etc to ascertain that they are in compliance with IS 15844. Samples are drawn/sealed for testing in independent laboratory (Indian Laboratory duly recognized by BIS) and samples drawn for ensuring the compliance of the product to IS 15844
• Testing of Products: The manufacturer arranges for their products to be shipped to the relevant Indian laboratory tested for testing to confirm that they meet the requirements of the IS 15844. The test results must demonstrate that the products meet the required specifications and standards
• Grant of Licence / Certification: Based on documents submitted by the manufacturer, satisfactory certification audit and conformity of the sample drawn during certification audit to requirement of IS 15844, BIS grants certification to the manufacturer and the manufacturer is allowed to affix the Standard Mark on their products
• Ongoing Surveillance: BIS may conduct regular surveillance audits to ensure that the manufacturer continues to comply with the relevant Indian Standards and maintain the quality of their products. Market samples are also drawn on regular basis to ensure the compliance to IS 15844

Marking and Labelling

The Standard Mark (ISI Mark) as given in Schedule of the license shall be stamped on each piece of footwear and the outer packaging for each pair of footwear, provided always that the Footwear to which this mark is thus applied conforms to every requirement of the specification.

All markings shall be made inside of tongue or at top outer face of the footwear so that least damage is done during working.

Packing shall be done as agreed between purchaser and supplier.

In addition, the following details shall be permanently marked on each piece of footwear:

1. Size
2. Manufacturer’s name and brand
3. Year and month of manufacture
4. Number and year of the standard, based upon which the boots are produced
5. Any other statutory marking
6. BIS Licence No. (CM/L—)

Each pair of footwear shall be supplied with the following information in English and any other language:

1. Name and full address of manufacturer
2. Details of customer care service provider
3. Instruction for storage and maintenance
4. For instructions on cleaning and drying, see IS 6519
5. Wherever applicable, declaration to be made stating footwear is not for use in fire hazard/explosion prone areas/hot contact/electric resistance purpose
6. The footwear is not a GREEN footwear and not bio-degradable
7. BIS Licence No. (CM/L—) and BIS website details: “For details of BIS Certification please visit www.bis.gov.in” (These details also to be marked on the box)

Role of OMEGA QMS Pvt. Ltd.

Omega QMS Pvt. Ltd. is a leading consultancy and support services provider for companies seeking BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification. It provides end to end technical and support services leading to BIS certification. We are proud to have a team that comprises senior bureaucrats and technocrats, who have served the Government of India at the highest level and possess expertise in the regulatory framework of the country. We have been assisting almost the entire footwear industry in India and abroad for BIS certification of footwears. A few of our esteemed customers are Farida Shoes, Liberty, Bata, Decathlon, Trent, Reliance brands, Clarks, Zara, Alpargatas, etc. The company can play the following role in facilitating the BIS certification process:

• Consultancy: Omega QMS provides consultancy services to help companies understand the requirements for BIS certification and the certification process. It advises companies on the applicability of relevant Indian Standard for their product, assistance provided in development of samples as per the Indian Standards and support for documentation for filing of application with BIS, we hand the client through the process and provide end to end support till licence / certification is granted
• Auditing: Omega conducts pre-certification audit of the manufacturer’s facilities to ensure that they meet the requirements of IS 15844 and satisfies the requirements of BIS
• Test Equipment: Omega Industrial Corporation sister concern of Omega QMS Pvt Ltd is into manufacturing of testing equipments. It has state of the infrastructure to manufacture testing equipment as per IS 15844. Omega has already supplied testing equipments to a number of footwear manufacturers in India and abroad
• Testing: Omega QMS assists in product testing from a BIS-recognized testing laboratory to confirm that the products meet the requirements of IS 15844
• Documentation: Omega QMS helps in the preparation of the necessary documentation for BIS certification
• Representation: Omega QMS can represent the manufacturer during the BIS certification process, including attending audits and communicating with BIS on the manufacturer’s behalf

Contact Us

For more details please reach out to us at:

OMEGA QMS PVT. LTD.
908-909, Hemkunt House
Rajendra Place
New Delhi-110008, India

Phone: +91-11-41413939 (100 lines)
Mobile: +91 9810541740
Email:info@globalomega.com / sales@globalomega.com