Universal plates

Hot-rolled universal plates of iron or non-alloy steel, 3 to 4.75 mm thick

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7208 53 20 (hot-rolled universal plates of iron or non-alloy steel, 3 mm to 4.75 mm thick) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 1079 and IS 2062 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, S.O. 3716(E). 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 53 20

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 1079 · effective 28-09-2020

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 to the plate specification. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and licensed 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 plate bears the ISI mark under the CM/L licence. Each consignment must be accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer — marking and certification on the product are independent obligations.
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
Register the consignment on the SIMS portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival, paying the fee of ₹500 and obtaining the automatic registration number. The registration is valid for 75 days; confirm it remains within validity on the arrival date.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition No. 5 of Chapter 72
4
Apply for a TCQCO portal clarification for each consignment imported without a BIS licence or certification, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Confirm compliance with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs clarification on that circular before filing the bill of entry.
Ministry of Steel circular F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023
5
If the consignment comprises seconds or defective HR plates, comply with value restrictions, port restrictions, and the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement. If the goods are re-imports for packaging purposes, or SEZ-to-DTA movements, document the applicable SIMS carve-out — the BIS QCO obligation is not waived by either exemption.
Policy Conditions 1, 2, and 3 of Chapter 72 · DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the serial-number deferment under S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends the BIS obligation for universal plates. That notification defers enforcement for specific serial numbers listed in Schedule 1 of the 2024 QCO; importers must cross-check whether IS 1079 or IS 2062 for this CTI falls within those deferred serial numbers before treating the CM/L requirement as inactive — if the IS number is not among the deferred entries, a consignment without a valid CM/L remains liable to detention, confiscation, and monetary penalty under the BIS Act, 2016.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7208 53 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Conformity to IS 1079 and IS 2062 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, with import permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering this plate specification and manufacturing facility.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, costs ₹500, and remains valid for 75 days. It is independent of the BIS CM/L requirement; both must be in order on the date of arrival.

Does the S.O. 5134(E) deferment suspend the BIS QCO for this HSN?

Only if IS 1079 or IS 2062 for this CTI corresponds to one of the specific serial numbers listed as deferred in S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025. Importers must verify the serial number mapping in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 before treating the obligation as inactive.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all plate thicknesses and specifications within this heading?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by Indian Standard, product specification, and licensed manufacturing facility; plates outside the licensed specification or from an unlicensed plant are not covered.

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