Plates

Hot-rolled flat steel plates, width 600 mm or more, under 3 mm thick

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 39 10 (hot-rolled flat steel plates of width 600 mm or more and thickness less than 3 mm) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order 2024. Conformity to IS 1079 and IS 513 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of S.O. 3716(E) dated 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 39 10

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 1079 / IS 513 · 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 1079 (for strip/coil-origin product) or IS 513 (for plates) as applicable. 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
Ensure every consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the BIS standard mark, issued by the CM/L-licensed manufacturer. Each plate must bear the ISI mark under the supplier's 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 · Schedule 1, column (3) conformity and marking obligation
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. SIMS registration fee is ₹500 and the automatic registration number remains valid for 75 days; the 15-day advance-registration 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; Policy Condition No. 5 of Chapter 72
4
For any consignment imported without BIS CM/L certification, apply on the TCQCO portal for a clarification from the Ministry of Steel before the consignment arrives. Failure to do so and failure to comply with the CBIC clarification on this requirement may result in consignment detention.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC Clarification F.No.401/88/23-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
5
If the consignment comprises seconds or defective HR coil, sheets, or plates, confirm compliance with applicable value restrictions, port restrictions, and the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement. Sub-standard product that does not conform to IS 1079 or IS 513 must be disposed of as scrap to avoid contravention of Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
Policy Conditions 1, 2, and 3 of Chapter 72 · Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016 (11 of 2016) · Madras HC Order dated 21-01-2004 in W.P. Nos. 38864 and 38865 of 2003

A word of counsel

The single most consequential oversight on this tariff line is failing to identify which Indian Standard governs the specific product being imported — IS 1079 applies to strip and coil-origin product while IS 513 governs plates — and then sourcing from a manufacturer whose CM/L licence covers the wrong standard or an out-of-scope thickness range. Customs cross-checks the CM/L scope against the bill of entry product description in real time; a mismatch between the declared product and the licensed scope triggers detention even where a valid SIMS registration and test certificate are presented. Additionally, the suspension of certain serial-number entries under S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 does not affect IS 1079 or IS 513 — verify that the applicable IS entry remains operative before concluding any compliance waiver applies.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 39 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Hot-rolled flat steel plates under this tariff line must conform to IS 1079 or IS 513 under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)); import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the relevant standard and product scope.

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

Yes. SIMS registration is a separate customs-clearance overlay administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The registration fee is ₹500, validity is 75 days, and applications may be submitted no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

Does the partial suspension under S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 affect IS 1079 or IS 513 for this tariff line?

No. S.O. 5134(E) suspends enforcement only for the specific serial numbers listed in Schedule 1 of the QCO for a period of 3 years from gazette publication. Importers must verify that the serial entry for their applicable IS remains operative and has not been suspended before assuming any compliance waiver.

Does one CM/L licence cover both IS 1079 and IS 513, and all thickness ranges?

No. A CM/L licence is standard-specific, scope-specific, and facility-specific; product outside the licensed standard, thickness range, or manufacturing plant is not covered, and customs will detain the consignment on a scope mismatch.

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