Other

Iron and non-alloy steel in other primary forms

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7206 90 99 (iron and non-alloy steel in other primary forms) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 29 August 2024, per S.O. 3716(E). Steel Import Monitoring System registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, and compliance with Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs instructions on the TCQCO portal, apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

7206 90 99

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS per Schedule 1 of S.O. 3716(E) · effective 29-08-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

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

Compliance steps

1
Identify the specific Indian Standard mapped to this tariff item in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024. Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against that IS, and verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Confirm that each consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. Every product must also bear the ISI standard mark under the CM/L licence; sub-standard or defective material must be disposed of as scrap in compliance with Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee ₹500; SIMS registration number valid for 75 days from issue. The 15-day advance-registration requirement has been abolished, but the registration must remain valid on the date of arrival.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022
4
If the consignment is imported without a BIS CM/L licence or certification, apply for a clarification on the TCQCO portal before arrival, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. CBIC clarification vide F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023 governs customs-side implementation of this requirement.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023 vide F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech · CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
5
Ensure strict compliance with CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025, regarding the Indian Standard of the input material intended for import and mandatory SIMS registration. Quote the BIS CM/L number and SIMS registration number on the bill of entry.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating Steel Import Monitoring System registration as a stand-alone clearance formality while failing to verify that the supplier holds a current BIS CM/L licence against the specific Indian Standard listed for this tariff item in Schedule 1 of the QCO. Because the primary IS number is not hard-coded to the 8-digit residual HSN on the face of the tariff entry, importers frequently discover mid-shipment that their supplier's CM/L is scoped to a different primary-form specification, triggering detention and mandatory TCQCO portal clarification before customs will release the consignment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7206 90 99 require BIS certification?

Yes. Iron and non-alloy steel in other primary forms under this tariff line must conform to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 under the ISI Mark Scheme, with effect from 29 August 2024, per S.O. 3716(E).

Is Steel Import Monitoring System registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade independently of the BIS QCO obligation. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days; apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival.

What is the TCQCO portal requirement, and when does it apply?

The Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023 requires all steel importers to seek a clarification on the TCQCO portal for each consignment imported without a BIS CM/L licence or certification. CBIC clarification dated 09-11-2023 governs customs-side implementation.

Do the SIMS carve-outs for packaging re-imports and SEZ movements also waive the BIS QCO obligation?

No. The SIMS carve-outs under DGFT policy circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022 affect only SIMS registration; the BIS ISI Mark requirement under S.O. 3716(E) continues to apply regardless of SIMS exemption status.

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