Plates

Hot-rolled flat steel plates of thickness less than 3 mm

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 27 10 (hot-rolled flat steel plates below 3 mm thickness) 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, by virtue of S.O. 3716(E). 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 27 10

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
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against the Indian Standard mapped to this tariff line in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and facility address 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
Ensure every plate in the consignment bears the ISI standard mark under the supplier's CM/L licence. Each consignment must also be accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal, paying the ₹500 registration fee. Apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days from issue.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy condition 5 of Chapter 72
4
If the consignment lacks BIS licence or certification, apply on the TCQCO portal for a clarification before arrival, as mandated for all steel importers. Quote the CBIC clarification reference on the bill of entry alongside the BIS CM/L and SIMS registration numbers.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/23-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
5
If importing seconds or defective plates, comply with the applicable value restriction, port restriction, and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement. Verify whether S.O. 5134(E) defers enforcement for the specific Schedule 1 serial number covering this product before treating the QCO as suspended.
Policy conditions 1, 2, and 3 of Chapter 72 · S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming that S.O. 5134(E)'s deferral of certain Schedule 1 serial numbers suspends the BIS QCO obligation for hot-rolled plates below 3 mm. The deferral applies only to the specific serial numbers listed in that notification; importers must verify whether this product's Schedule 1 entry is one of them before clearing without a CM/L-backed consignment. Importing sub-standard or defective plates without disposal as scrap per Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016 additionally exposes the importer to criminal liability, not merely detention.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 27 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Hot-rolled flat steel plates below 3 mm are subject to the ISI Mark Scheme under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024, with effect from 29 August 2024; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering this product scope.

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

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and is independent of the BIS QCO obligation. The registration fee is ₹500, the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days, and application may be made no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

Does the enforcement deferral under S.O. 5134(E) apply to this tariff line?

Only if the Schedule 1 serial number covering this product is among those listed in S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025; importers must verify their specific Schedule 1 entry against that notification before treating the QCO obligation as deferred.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all hot-rolled plate dimensions and manufacturing facilities?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by product specification, thickness range, and licensed manufacturing facility; plates outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant are not covered and will be detained at customs.

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