Ferro-columbium

Ferro-columbium ferro-alloy for steel industry use

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7202 99 14 (Ferro-columbium) is subject to compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72, ITC (HS). Importers must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number before the consignment arrives, with a registration fee of ₹500 and a validity window of 75 days.

What this is

HSN code

7202 99 14

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · ITC (HS) Policy Condition 5, Chapter 72 (Steel Import Monitoring System)

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Online advance registration from SIMS portal
ITC (HS) policy declaration to CBIC

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Register the import in the SIMS online portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival and pay the ₹500 registration fee. The automatic SIMS registration number issued is valid for 75 days and must be available at the bill-of-entry stage.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72, ITC (HS)
2
Note that the earlier requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration window before the expected date of arrival has been abolished; registration at any point within the 60-day window is now valid. Confirm SIMS number currency against the actual arrival date, as the 75-day validity is fixed from the date of grant.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is overlooking the SIMS carve-outs and attempting registration for consignments that fall outside the scheme. Ferro-columbium re-imported solely for packaging purposes, or steel moved between the Domestic Tariff Area and a Special Economic Zone without value addition (or with value addition), does not attract SIMS registration — applying SIMS to such movements wastes fees and creates reconciliation errors at customs. Equally, allowing the 75-day validity to lapse before the bill of entry is filed triggers a lapsed-registration defect that requires fresh registration and delays out-of-charge.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7202 99 14 require BIS certification?

No, ferro-columbium is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72 of the ITC (HS), with a compulsory advance SIMS registration requirement.

How early can the SIMS registration application be filed, and how long does the registration number remain valid?

The application may be filed up to 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number granted is valid for 75 days from the date of issue, per DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023.

Is SIMS registration required when ferro-columbium is re-imported from an SEZ into the DTA?

No. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, steel or steel items moved from the DTA to an SEZ and then re-imported into the DTA — whether with or without value addition — do not require SIMS registration; re-imports solely for packaging purposes are likewise excluded.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: SIMS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.