Strip

Hot-rolled steel strip with patterns in relief, not in coils

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 40 40 (hot-rolled steel strip with patterns in relief, not in coils) 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 2062 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024. 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 40 40

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 1079 / IS 2062 · 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 IS 1079 or IS 2062 as applicable for hot-rolled steel strip. Verify the supplier's 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 standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. The product must bear the ISI mark under CM/L licence; marking on the product is mandatory under Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal. Fee ₹500, apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days. Quote the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72
4
Apply on the TCQCO portal for each consignment imported without a BIS licence or certification, as required by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Ensure compliance with the CBIC clarification at F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023 on that circular.
MoS circular dated 20-10-2023 vide F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech · CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
5
Comply with CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 regarding the Indian Standard of the input material for steel products intended for import under the QCO and requiring mandatory SIMS registration. If the consignment comprises seconds or defective material, observe the value restriction, port restriction, and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirements under Policy Conditions 1, 2, and 3 of Chapter 72.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · Policy Conditions 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 72

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming the S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 deferral list covers hot-rolled strip with patterns in relief. S.O. 5134(E) suspends enforcement for specific serial numbers in Schedule 1 of the QCO for three years; importers must verify against those serial numbers that IS 1079 and IS 2062 as mapped to HSN 7208 40 40 are not on the deferred list before concluding that BIS CM/L compliance is temporarily relaxed — proceeding on an unverified assumption triggers detention and confiscation of non-marked consignments.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 40 40 require BIS certification?

Yes. Hot-rolled steel strip with patterns in relief falls within Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order 2024 and must conform to IS 1079 or IS 2062 under the ISI Mark Scheme; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence.

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. Fee ₹500, registration valid 75 days, applied no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date; it does not substitute for BIS CM/L compliance.

Does the S.O. 5134(E) deferral relax BIS compliance for this tariff item?

Only if IS 1079 or IS 2062 as mapped to HSN 7208 40 40 appears at one of the specific serial numbers listed in S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025. Importers must verify each serial number individually; a blanket assumption of deferral is not permitted.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all strip dimensions and grades from the same manufacturer?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by product grade, dimension range, and licensed manufacturing facility; strip outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant is not covered and is liable to detention at port.

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