Empty or discharged cartridges of all bores and sizes

Empty or discharged cartridges, ferrous scrap (all bores and sizes)

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7204 29 10 (Empty or discharged cartridges of all bores and sizes) is subject to the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) compulsory advance registration under Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72 and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Notification 33/15-20 dated 28-09-2020. Import additionally requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from a DGFT-recognised agency, clearance only at specified ports, and compliance with the Hazardous Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

What this is

HSN code

7204 29 10

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · ITC (HS) Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72; DGFT Notification 33/15-20

Customs documentation

PSIC from DGFT-recognised agency
SIMS registration number from DGFT
Hazardous waste forms from CPCB

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Register the consignment under SIMS through the DGFT online portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival, and pay the ₹500 registration fee. The automatic SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days; upload it in e-Sanchit alongside the PSIC (document code 856001) before filing the bill of entry.
DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 19/15-20 dated 07-07-2022 · Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72
2
Obtain a PSIC generated mandatorily through the DGFT online system for both shredded and non-shredded scrap. Any PSIC dated on or after 1 July 2022 not generated via the DGFT online system is invalid; if the PSIC indicates the place of inspection as UAE and UAE has banned export of the item, the PSIC is treated as invalid and may constitute a mis-declaration.
DGFT Trade Notice 03/22-23 dated 26-04-2022 · DGFT O.M. F.No.01/53/8/E/AM24/PSIC/ImportCell/918 dated 13-06-2023 · CBIC O.M. 450/148/2009-CUS-IV dated 09-06-2023
3
Route the consignment exclusively through specified ports and locations per Para 2.54 and 2.55 of the Foreign Trade Policy procedure. Comply with Rules 11, 12 and 13 of the Hazardous Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, and submit valid Forms 2, 6, 7 and 9 along with verification documents listed in Schedules III, VI and VIII. Consignments from safe countries or regions imported through specified ports are exempt from the PSIC requirement.
DGFT Public Notice 64/15-20 dated 19-02-2020 · DGFT Public Notice 46/15-20 dated 14-01-2022 · Para 8(b) of General Notes of ITC (HS) Import Policy

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is applying for SIMS registration after vessel departure rather than within the 60-day pre-arrival window, and then compounding the lapse by presenting a PSIC not generated through the DGFT online portal. An offline or manually issued PSIC dated on or after 1 July 2022 will be rejected by customs, and a UAE-origin PSIC for a product subject to UAE export ban constitutes mis-declaration by the Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency — exposing the importer to detention, confiscation proceedings, and referral under the Customs Act, 1962 independently of the SIMS lapse.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 7204 29 10 require BIS certification?

No, empty or discharged cartridges classified as ferrous scrap are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System compulsory registration under Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72 and DGFT Notification 33/15-20, with a mandatory PSIC and specified-port restriction.

Is the PSIC requirement waived for any origin countries?

Yes. DGFT Public Notice 64/15-20 dated 19-02-2020 exempts imports from safe countries or regions from the PSIC requirement, provided the consignment arrives through a specified port; the SIMS registration and specified-port obligations continue to apply regardless of origin.

Are re-imports of steel cartridges for packaging purposes required to register under SIMS?

No. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/15-20 dated 19-01-2022, re-imports of steel or steel items solely for packaging purposes — not primarily intended for value addition — are not covered under SIMS, and neither are intra-DTA/SEZ movements in either direction whether with or without value addition.

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