Other

Spongy ferrous products and high-purity iron, other forms

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7203 90 00 (other ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore and other spongy ferrous products) requires compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72, per DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. Importers must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number by paying a fee of ₹500, with the registration remaining valid for 75 days.

What this is

HSN code

7203 90 00

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Import declaration from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy compliance

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 on the SIMS online portal and obtain an automatic SIMS registration number before the consignment arrives. The application may be filed up to 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the registration number is valid for 75 days. Pay the prescribed registration fee of ₹500 at the time of application.
DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · Policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72
2
Upload the SIMS registration number in e-Sanchit and quote it on the bill of entry before seeking out-of-charge. Confirm that the minimum 15-day advance-registration requirement no longer applies, as it was abolished by DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022 · Policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72
3
Verify whether the import falls within a SIMS carve-out: re-import of steel for packaging purposes and DTA-SEZ-DTA movements (with or without value addition) do not require SIMS registration. Document the applicable carve-out basis on the bill of entry to forestall customs queries.
DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is allowing the SIMS registration to lapse before the consignment arrives: the 75-day validity window runs from the date of registration, not from the date of shipment, and a vessel delay can render an otherwise valid registration number expired at the bill-of-entry stage — triggering detention and requiring a fresh application. Apply for SIMS registration as close as practicable to the 60-day window, taking vessel transit time into account.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7203 90 00 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers this product family. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 and policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72, requiring advance SIMS registration before each consignment arrives.

How long is the SIMS registration number valid, and when can it be applied for?

The automatic SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days from grant and the application may be submitted not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival, per DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023; the earlier minimum 15-day advance requirement has been abolished.

Are DTA-to-SEZ steel movements exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, both DTA-SEZ-DTA re-imports without value addition and those with value addition are exempt from SIMS registration, as is the re-import of steel used solely for packaging purposes.

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