Strip

Cold-rolled flat-rolled steel strip of 3 mm or more thickness

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7209 15 30 (cold-rolled flat-rolled steel strip of 3 mm or more thickness) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 vide S.O. 3716(E). Conformity to IS 513 and IS 1079:2017 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, with every consignment required to bear the standard mark and be accompanied by a BIS-licensed manufacturer's test certificate. 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

7209 15 30

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 513 · IS 1079:2017 · 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 513 or IS 1079:2017 (as applicable to the product variant). 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 QCO 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 CM/L-licensed manufacturer. The strip must itself bear the ISI standard mark; marking on packaging alone does not satisfy the QCO requirement.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Schedule 1 marking obligation
3
If importing without BIS licence or certification, apply on the TCQCO portal for each consignment for a clarification before shipment, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Obtain CBIC clarification confirmation per F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023.
MoS circular dated 20-10-2023 vide F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech · CBIC F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
4
Register the consignment on the SIMS portal before import; fee ₹500, registration valid 75 days, application permissible no earlier than 60 days before expected date of arrival. Re-imports for packaging only and SEZ-DTA movements without value addition are exempt from SIMS registration.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022
5
Ensure strict 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 mapping for steel input materials requiring mandatory SIMS registration. Quote the CM/L number and SIMS registration number on the bill of entry; absence, expiry, or scope mismatch triggers consignment detention.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025

A word of counsel

The most consequential oversight on this tariff line is importing strip that technically bears an ISI mark but is sourced from a CM/L licence that does not extend to the specific thickness range or product specification of the consignment. IS 513 and IS 1079:2017 each carry scope-specific grade and dimension parameters; a licence covering plates under IS 513 does not automatically cover strip under IS 1079:2017, and customs cross-checks the bill-of-entry product description against the licensed scope at the time of examination. Scope mismatch — not mere absence of marking — is the leading ground for detention and referral to the TCQCO portal.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7209 15 30 require BIS certification?

Yes. Cold-rolled flat-rolled steel strip of 3 mm or more thickness falling under this tariff line must conform to IS 513 or IS 1079:2017 under the ISI Mark Scheme, with effect from 28 September 2020, pursuant to the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 vide S.O. 3716(E).

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade independently of the BIS QCO obligation; fee ₹500, validity 75 days, with specific carve-outs for re-imports for packaging and SEZ-DTA movements without value addition per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20.

Does the S.O. 5134(E) deferral apply to the IS standards governing this tariff line?

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 publication; importers must verify whether IS 513 or IS 1079:2017 appear at the relevant serial numbers in Schedule 1 to confirm whether any deferral applies to this consignment.

Does a single CM/L licence cover both IS 513 and IS 1079:2017 product variants?

No. A CM/L licence is standard-specific and scope-specific by grade, dimension, and manufacturing facility; a licence granted against IS 513 for plates does not cover strip under IS 1079:2017, and each licensed scope must be independently verified on the BIS register.

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