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. - Dhirendra Kumar dhirendra.kumar@livemint.comThe move signals a broader effort by the world's second-largest footwear maker to align with global benchmarks while strengthening consumer protection. 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 synthetic leather and components. PAHs are typically found in rubber and plastic parts as soles, and some compounds in this group are known to cause cancer.

Source: Mint April 02, 2026 04:08 UTC