Plates

Hot-rolled flat steel plates, 4.75 mm to 10 mm thick

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 37 10 (hot-rolled flat steel plates of 4.75 mm to 10 mm thickness) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024, S.O. 3716(E). Conformity to IS 2062 or IS 1079 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme. 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 37 10

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 2062 / IS 1079 · effective 14-11-2021

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 IS 2062 or IS 1079 as applicable. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, thickness range, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Ensure each plate bears the ISI mark under the CM/L licence and is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. Marking and the test certificate must accompany every consignment as required under Schedule 1 of the QCO.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 Scheme-I
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee ₹500, automatic registration valid for 75 days; the minimum advance 15-day requirement has been abolished.
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 importing seconds or defective HR plates, comply with applicable value restriction, port restriction, and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirements. Price restriction on prime steel items applies to the extent specified in the Madras High Court order dated 21-01-2004 in W.P. 38864 and 38865 of 2003.
Policy Conditions 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 72 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy
5
For any consignment imported without a BIS licence or certification, apply for and obtain clarification on the TCQCO portal before customs clearance, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Review CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/23-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023 for customs-clearance procedure on such consignments.
Ministry of Steel Circular F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC Clarification F.No. 401/88/23-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing against an S.O. 5134(E) deferral belief without confirming that the specific IS serial number covering IS 2062 or IS 1079 is actually listed among the deferred entries. S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement only for the serial numbers explicitly enumerated in that notification; IS 2062 and IS 1079 entries must be checked individually against that list. An importer who assumes a blanket deferral, presents unmarked plates at port, and cannot produce a valid CM/L faces consignment detention under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016 regardless of the SIMS registration status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 37 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Hot-rolled steel plates of this thickness range must conform to IS 2062 or IS 1079 under the ISI Mark Scheme pursuant to the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024, S.O. 3716(E); import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the relevant product scope.

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

Yes. SIMS registration is a customs-clearance overlay administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and is entirely independent of the BIS CM/L requirement. Re-imports for packaging only and SEZ-to-DTA movements without value addition are exempt from SIMS under DGFT policy circular 38/2015-20.

Does S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 defer enforcement for IS 2062 and IS 1079 on this tariff line?

Only if the specific Schedule 1 serial numbers corresponding to IS 2062 or IS 1079 for this CTI appear in the enumerated list in S.O. 5134(E); the deferral is serial-number-specific, not a blanket suspension, and each entry must be verified individually against that notification.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all thickness ranges and grade variants?

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

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