The National Testing House has inaugurated a modern shoe testing laboratory in Ghaziabad to strengthen quality standards in India’s footwear industry. The facility is expected to improve compliance with Quality Control Orders, enhance consumer safety, and boost the international competitiveness of Indian footwear exports.
Major Highlights
- The National Testing House Northern Region established a state-of-the-art laboratory dedicated to the testing and certification of different categories of footwear.
- The facility aims to help Indian footwear manufacturers comply with international quality standards and improve the export potential of Indian products in global markets.
- The laboratory is equipped to conduct specialized testing for leather, rubber, and polymer-based footwear products to assess their durability, safety, and performance quality.
- The new testing centre will support implementation of mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the government to prevent the manufacture and sale of sub-standard footwear products.
- The initiative supports the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by creating indigenous testing infrastructure and reducing dependence on foreign certification laboratories.
- The laboratory contains advanced instruments capable of conducting both physical and chemical tests, including:
- Slip resistance testing
- Flexing endurance evaluation
- Material strength analysis
- Durability assessments
- The facility is expected to especially benefit Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), many of which lack the resources to establish their own in-house testing infrastructure.
- Faster and more efficient certification processes will help Indian exporters meet strict technical and safety standards required in markets such as the European Union and the United States.
- The project is being overseen by the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- Strengthening domestic testing and certification capabilities is expected to reduce production costs, improve quality assurance, and enhance the global reputation of Indian footwear products.
Important Terms
- National Testing House (NTH): A government organization that provides testing, calibration, and quality certification services for industrial and consumer products in India.
- Quality Control Orders (QCOs): Mandatory standards issued by the government to ensure that products meet specified quality and safety requirements before being sold in the market.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): India’s national standards body responsible for formulating quality standards and certification systems for products and services.
