Ferro-tantalum

Ferro-tantalum, a ferro-alloy for steel alloying

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7202 99 16 (Ferro-tantalum) is subject to compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), as mandated by policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72. Importers must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number before the consignment arrives, with the registration valid for 75 days from grant.

What this is

HSN code

7202 99 16

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 5, Chapter 72 (DGFT NTFN 33/2015-20)

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Bill of entry with SIMS reference
Registration fee receipt from DGFT

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 under the Steel Import Monitoring System by submitting advance information through the DGFT online portal and paying a registration fee of ₹500. The application may be filed no earlier than the 60th day before the expected date of arrival, and the automatic registration number remains valid for 75 days.
DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022 · Policy condition no. 5, Chapter 72
2
Quote the SIMS automatic registration number on the bill of entry at the port of import. The minimum 15-day advance registration requirement has been abolished, but registration must be in place before the consignment's arrival date.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022 · DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023

A word of counsel

The SIMS carve-outs are narrower than they appear: re-import of ferro-alloys for packaging purposes and DTA-SEZ-DTA movements without value addition are exempt from SIMS registration, but any first-use import of ferro-tantalum for steel alloying — the primary commercial use — falls squarely within the mandatory registration regime. Treating a DTA-SEZ transit as an exempt movement when value addition has occurred is a known misclassification; DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022 confirms that even SEZ-DTA imports with value addition require SIMS registration.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7202 99 16 require BIS certification?

No, ferro-tantalum is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System under DGFT policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72, requiring advance online registration and payment of a ₹500 fee before the consignment arrives.

How long is the SIMS registration number valid, and how early can it be obtained?

The automatic SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days from grant, and the application may be filed no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival per DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023.

Are re-imports of ferro-tantalum for packaging or SEZ-DTA movements exempt from SIMS registration?

Re-imports solely for packaging and DTA-SEZ-DTA movements without value addition are exempt; however, SEZ-DTA imports with value addition require SIMS registration per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022.

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