New Delhi, April 1 -- India has tightened chemical safety norms in the footwear sector, with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issuing voluntary standards to detect hazardous substances in footwear materials. The move signals a broader effort by the world's second-largest footwear maker to align with global benchmarks while strengthening consumer protection.

According to a BIS notification, reviewed by Mint, the new norms prescribe test methods to measure the presence of dimethylformamide (DMF) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), respectively. Both substances are commonly used in footwear manufacturing and can pose health risks with prolonged exposure.

DMF is widely used as a solvent in the production of polyurethane-based s...