Importing Leather Safety Shoes from India to the EU and UK: EN ISO 20345, CE and UKCA (2026)
Updated: 19 hours ago
To import safety shoes from India into the EU or UK, specify a class under EN ISO 20345:2022, have the model type-examined by a notified body (or a UK approved body), mark it CE or UKCA, and ship it with a declaration of conformity, user instructions and the importer's name and address. Updated October 2026.
Key Takeaways
Safety footwear is personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425; most leather safety shoes fall into Category II, which needs EU type-examination (Module B) plus internal production control (Module C).
EN ISO 20345:2022 is the current standard: it adds PL and PS non-metal puncture-resistance classes and makes slip testing mandatory.
Great Britain accepts either UKCA or CE marking on PPE, under legislation in force since 1 October 2024 (GOV.UK, as of October 2026).
EU importers must show their name and postal address on the shoe, box or accompanying document and keep the declaration of conformity for 10 years.
A brand selling safety shoes under its own name is treated as the manufacturer, so decide early whose name the certificate carries.
Why are leather safety shoes treated as PPE in the EU and UK?
Because they protect the wearer against workplace risks such as falling objects and sharp objects underfoot, safety shoes are personal protective equipment, not ordinary footwear. That puts them under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 in the EU, and under the retained version of the same regulation in Great Britain.
Most leather safety shoes and boots with a toecap are Category II PPE. Footwear designed against risks listed for Category III, such as electrical insulation for live working, follows a stricter route with ongoing notified-body surveillance. For an importer, the practical point is that a Category II shoe cannot carry CE marking on the factory's own say-so; an independent notified body must examine and test the type first.
Which EN ISO 20345:2022 class should you specify?
Choose the lowest class that covers the hazards your customers' workplaces actually face, because each step up adds components, tests and cost. The table below summarises the leather-relevant classes; S4 and S5 are reserved for all-rubber or all-polymer boots, so they do not apply to leather uppers.
Class | What it adds | Typical buyer use |
SB | Basic safety requirements, including a 200 J impact toecap | Low-risk sites where only toe protection is needed |
S1 | SB plus closed seat region, antistatic properties and energy absorption in the seat region | Indoor warehousing, light assembly, logistics |
S2 | S1 plus water-penetration and water-absorption resistance of the upper | Indoor or covered sites with occasional wet floors |
S3 | S2 plus perforation resistance (P, PL or PS) and a cleated outsole | Construction, outdoor yards, general industry |
S6 | S2 plus water resistance of the whole footwear | Wet indoor environments without puncture risk |
S7 | S3 plus water resistance of the whole footwear | Outdoor sites in wet climates such as the UK and northern Europe |
Puncture resistance now comes in three types: P for a metal midsole insert, PL for a non-metal insert tested with a 4.5 mm nail, and PS for a non-metal insert tested with a thinner 3.0 mm nail, according to this guide to EN ISO 20345:2022. Slip resistance is now part of the basic requirements, and an extra SR marking shows the shoe also passed the optional additional slip test.
If you are also selling in India, the Indian standard works differently; see our guide to specifying S1, S2 and S3 leather safety shoes under IS 15298.
Who holds the CE certificate for private label safety shoes made in India?
Whoever is legally the manufacturer holds it, and a brand that places safety shoes on the market under its own name or trademark is treated as the manufacturer under Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2016/425. In practice, buyers sourcing from India use one of two routes.
Factory-held certificate: the Indian factory's model already has an EU type-examination certificate, and you import it as listed. This is the faster route, but the certificate names the factory, and any change to the toecap, midsole, sole or leather may need the certificate updated.
Brand-held certificate: you, or your EU or UK representative, apply to a notified body for your own model using type samples and a technical file from the factory. It takes longer, but the certificate follows your brand if you add a second supplier later.
Either way, plan for renewal. EU type-examination certificates are valid for a maximum of five years, according to the DGUV Test FAQ on the PPE Regulation, and the certificate holder's name and postal address must be marked on the PPE, or on the packaging or instructions if marking the shoe itself isn't possible.
What documents should an EU or UK importer get before shipment?
Before the shoes leave India, collect a document pack that proves conformity, because under Article 10 the importer must check that the conformity assessment was done, that technical documentation exists and that the CE marking and required documents accompany the product.
The EU type-examination certificate (or UKCA certificate), showing the notified body's four-digit number, the model and its EN ISO 20345:2022 class.
The EU declaration of conformity, or the UK declaration for UKCA goods, or a web address where it can be found.
Test reports for the type, including chromium VI in leather parts, which REACH limits for leather in contact with skin; see our guide to chromium VI testing for leather from India.
User instructions in the official language of each destination market, listing the risks covered and the applicable standard.
Marking on each pair: CE or UKCA, the standard and class symbols (for example S3 SR), size, manufacturer identification, model designation and date of manufacture.
Your importer name, registered trade name or mark and postal address on the shoe, the box or an accompanying document.
Pre-shipment inspection results to an agreed AQL, checking marking, toecap fit and sole bonding against the approved sample.
Keep the declaration of conformity for 10 years after the product is placed on the market, as Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 requires. For the chromium VI testing method, see our chromium VI testing guide for EU and UK importers.
Do UK buyers need UKCA, and what duty applies in 2026?
No, UKCA is optional for PPE in Great Britain: the UK government's product-marking guidance states that businesses can choose UKCA or CE marking, and legislation in force since 1 October 2024 continues recognition of CE marking. Northern Ireland follows EU rules, so CE-marked stock can serve the whole UK.
On duty, the British Footwear Association confirms 0% UK duty on qualifying footwear imports from India under the CETA, in force since 15 July 2026; our post on whether leather shoes from India enter the UK duty-free under CETA covers the rules of origin. For the EU, the India–EU FTA was concluded in January 2026 but is targeting a 2027 rollout, so standard EU duty applies until it enters into force; see our tracker on when EU import duties on Indian leather hit zero.
How Sanwas International works with safety-footwear buyers
For importers, that means MOQs under 500 units per style, sampling from 72 hours and bulk production from 30 days, with AQL inspection before dispatch. Share your target EN ISO 20345:2022 class and certificate route at the start, and ask us which styles already have certification and which need type samples made for your notified body. You can browse current styles on our men's footwear page, review our certifications, or request a safety footwear quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import 300 pairs of private label S3 leather safety boots from an Indian factory into Germany?
Yes, provided the boots are covered by an EU type-examination certificate for that exact model and carry CE marking before they enter the EU. Sanwas International accepts orders under 500 units per style, so 300 pairs is a workable first run. As the importer, or as the manufacturer if the boots carry your brand, you also take on the labelling and record-keeping duties of Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
Are leather safety shoes from India duty-free in the UK and the EU in 2026?
In the UK, qualifying Indian footwear has entered at 0% duty since the India–UK CETA came into force on 15 July 2026, provided the shoes meet the agreement's rules of origin and you hold valid origin documentation. The India–EU FTA was concluded in January 2026 but is not in force as of October 2026, so standard EU duty still applies; check the TARIC rate for your HS code, as footwear with a protective metal toecap has its own subheading.
Is a test report from an Indian lab enough to CE mark safety shoes?
No. Safety footwear is Category II PPE, so the EU type-examination certificate must be issued by a notified body (or a UK approved body for UKCA). Lab reports to EN ISO 20345:2022 support the technical file, but the notified body decides which tests it accepts and examines type samples itself.
My supplier has a safety shoe certificate to EN ISO 20345:2011. Is that still acceptable?
A certificate issued against the 2011 edition remains valid until it expires, but new certification is to EN ISO 20345:2022. EU type-examination certificates last a maximum of five years, so ask for the expiry date and the factory's plan for recertifying to the 2022 edition before you build a long-running range on it.
Which Incoterm should I use for a first safety-footwear order from India to the EU or UK?
Many first-time buyers use FOB for sea freight or FCA for air and consolidated cargo, because they keep control of the freight forwarder and the customs entry. Whatever the Incoterm, decide in writing who is the importer of record, since that party carries the PPE importer duties for labelling, documents and record-keeping.
Sourcing EN ISO 20345 Safety Footwear from India? Request a Quote
Safety-footwear brands, distributors and PPE importers in the EU, the UK and beyond can send us the style, leather type, target safety class, quantity per style, destination country, preferred Incoterm and target delivery date. Sanwas International supplies buyers across India and exports worldwide.
Include these details in your enquiry:
Product category and style (footwear, jacket, upholstery leather, hides or crust)
Leather type, finish and colour
Target quantity per style and colour
Delivery city in India or destination country, plus preferred Incoterm
Target delivery date and whether you need a sample before bulk
Contact Sanwas International
Mob: +91 8728858686
Address: 308 Leather Complex, Kapurthala Road, Jalandhar, Punjab 144002, India
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