Universal plates

Hot-rolled universal plates of iron or non-alloy steel, 4.75 mm and above

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 25 20 (hot-rolled universal plates of iron or non-alloy steel, 4.75 mm and above) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024. Conformity to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of S.O. 3716(E) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 29 August 2024. Steel Import Monitoring System registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

7208 25 20

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS mapped in 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
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Confirm the licence scope covers hot-rolled universal plates of the thickness and width range of the consignment, and that the licensed manufacturing facility matches the supplier's shipping address.
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
Ensure each consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. Every plate must itself bear the ISI standard mark under the CM/L licence; marking on packaging alone does not satisfy the requirement.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days; the registration must remain within validity on the arrival date.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS automatic registration number on the bill of entry. For any consignment imported without BIS licence or certification, apply and seek clarification on the TCQCO portal before customs clearance, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023.
MoS Circular dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC clarification F.No.401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023
5
If importing seconds or defective plates, comply with the value restriction, port restriction, and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirements. Confirm whether the relevant Schedule 1 serial number for this product has had enforcement deferred by three years under S.O. 5134(E) before lodging the bill of entry.
S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 · Policy Conditions 1, 2, and 3 of Chapter 72

A word of counsel

The most frequent compliance failure on this tariff line is overlooking S.O. 5134(E), which defers enforcement of specified Schedule 1 serial numbers by three years from gazette publication. Importers assume the full Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 is in force for every product in Schedule 1 from 29 August 2024, and either seek unnecessary CM/L verification on a deferred line or — more dangerously — import an active line without a CM/L on the mistaken assumption it is deferred. Confirm the specific serial number assigned to this product in Schedule 1 against the list in S.O. 5134(E) before each consignment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 25 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Hot-rolled universal plates under this tariff line fall within the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024, and must conform to the applicable Indian Standard under the ISI Mark Scheme; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. Steel Import Monitoring System registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 and is independent of the BIS QCO obligation. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days, apply no earlier than 60 days before expected arrival.

Does S.O. 5134(E) defer enforcement for this tariff line?

S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 defers enforcement for specified Schedule 1 serial numbers by three years from gazette publication. Whether this tariff line is covered depends on the Schedule 1 serial number assigned to it; the serial number must be checked against the list in S.O. 5134(E).

Does a single CM/L licence cover all thickness and width variants of universal plates?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by product specification, thickness range, and manufacturing facility; plates outside the licensed dimensional scope or from a different plant are not covered, and customs detains the consignment on a scope mismatch.

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