Strip

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

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 27 40 (hot-rolled flat steel strip below 3 mm) 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. 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 40

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
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer whose licence covers hot-rolled flat steel strip of the relevant thickness and width. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing 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. The test certificate must be consignment-specific and traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility.
Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024
3
Ensure the strip bears the ISI Standard Mark under the supplier's CM/L licence per Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product or bundle label in a manner traceable to the licensed batch.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival, paying ₹500. The automatic registration number is valid for 75 days and must remain within validity on the date of arrival.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · ITC (HS) Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72
5
Before filing the bill of entry, apply on the TCQCO portal for each consignment imported without BIS licence or certification, as mandated for all steel importers. Quote the BIS CM/L number and SIMS registration number on the bill of entry; absent, expired, or scope-mismatched documentation triggers consignment detention.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023 (F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech) · CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the BIS QCO as satisfied by a generic CM/L licence for flat-rolled products, without verifying that the licence scope explicitly covers the sub-3 mm thickness band and the specific width range of the consignment. A CM/L issued against a different thickness or dimension range does not cover this HSN variant, and customs detention follows a real-time scope mismatch on the BIS register. Separately, note that S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 defers enforcement of specified serial numbers in Schedule 1 for three years — verify whether the Indian Standard mapped to this strip variant is among the deferred entries before assuming full QCO applicability.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 27 40 require BIS certification?

Yes. This tariff item falls under the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 notified vide S.O. 3716(E), requiring conformity to the Indian Standard in Schedule 1 under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 29 August 2024. Import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering this product specification.

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 obligation. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days, and application may be made no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

Does S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 affect the QCO obligation for this HSN?

Possibly. S.O. 5134(E) defers enforcement for specific serial numbers listed in Schedule 1 for three years from gazette publication. Whether the Indian Standard mapped to HSN 7208 27 40 falls among those serial numbers must be verified against Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all thicknesses and widths of hot-rolled flat steel strip?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by thickness range, width, and manufacturing facility; strip dimensions outside the licensed scope 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.