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Hot-rolled flat steel sheets with patterns in relief

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 40 90 (hot-rolled flat-rolled steel sheets with patterns in relief, not in coils) 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 by virtue of S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024. Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

7208 40 90

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 the applicable Indian Standard under Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024. 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 ISI standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. Every product must bear the standard mark under the CM/L licence; sub-standard or defective steel must be disposed of as scrap in accordance with Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016
3
If importing without BIS licence or certification, apply and seek clarification on the TCQCO portal for each consignment before import, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Verify the procedure under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs clarification F.No.401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023.
Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC clarification F.No.401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023
4
Register the consignment on the SIMS portal, applying no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival and paying the ₹500 registration fee. The automatic registration number is valid for 75 days; the minimum 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
5
Quote both the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry. Ensure full compliance 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 intended for import.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · ITC (HS) Chapter 72 policy condition 5

A word of counsel

The most common oversight on this tariff line is overlooking the S.O. 5134(E) deferral list: certain serial numbers in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 have their enforcement suspended for three years from the gazette date, while others remain fully operative. Importers who assume a blanket deferral applies to their specific IS number — or conversely, who fail to claim a valid deferral — face either unnecessary compliance spend or consignment detention at port. Confirm whether the serial number mapping to your product's Indian Standard appears on the S.O. 5134(E) deferral list before shipping.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 40 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Hot-rolled flat steel with patterns in relief is covered by the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 under S.O. 3716(E); import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the applicable Indian Standard in Schedule 1.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 and is independent of the BIS QCO obligation. The ₹500 fee registration is valid for 75 days; apply no earlier than 60 days before arrival.

Do the S.O. 5134(E) deferrals affect the BIS obligation for this HSN?

Potentially. S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement of specific serial numbers in Schedule 1 of the QCO for three years from gazette date. Whether the deferral applies depends on which Schedule 1 serial number maps to the specific Indian Standard applicable to this product.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all product variants and manufacturing facilities?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by Indian Standard, product specification, and licensed manufacturing facility; steel from a facility or specification outside the licensed scope is not covered and triggers detention at customs.

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