Other

Cold-rolled flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel coils, thickness 1 to 3 mm

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7209 16 90 (cold-rolled flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, width 600 mm or more, thickness exceeding 1 mm but less than 3 mm, in coils) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 513 or IS 15961:2012 under the ISI Mark Scheme is mandatory with effect from 29 August 2024 by virtue of the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order 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

7209 16 90

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 513 / IS 15961:2012 · 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 513 or IS 15961:2012 as applicable to the grade being imported. 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 each coil or sheet bears the ISI standard mark and the supplier's CM/L number per Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Accompany each consignment with a test certificate bearing the standard mark issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer.
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 not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee is ₹500; the automatic registration number remains 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
4
Apply on the TCQCO portal for each consignment imported without a BIS licence or certification, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Compliance with the CBIC clarification on this circular is also required.
Ministry of Steel Circular F.No.S-20011/14/2021-Tech dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC F.No.401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023
5
If the import involves seconds or defective CR coils or sheets, comply with value restrictions, port restrictions, and produce a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate. For imports without BIS licence, verify per CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS whether the input material's Indian Standard mapping under the QCO triggers mandatory SIMS registration.
Policy Conditions 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 72 of ITC (HS) · 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 failing to confirm whether the specific grade imported falls under IS 513 or IS 15961:2012 — the two standards cover overlapping but distinct product scopes within HSN 7209 16 90, and a CM/L licence issued against one standard does not cover product falling within the other. A licence mismatch identified at port triggers detention and mandatory disposal of non-conforming material as scrap under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016, with no reclassification remedy available at the time of clearance.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 7209 16 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Cold-rolled flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel of this thickness range are subject to the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order 2024 under the ISI Mark Scheme; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence against IS 513 or IS 15961:2012, with effect from 29 August 2024.

Is Steel Import Monitoring System 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. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days; apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival.

Do certain serial numbers in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 have deferred enforcement?

Yes. S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement for specific serial numbers in Schedule 1 for a period of three years from the date of gazette publication; importers must verify whether their mapped serial number is among those listed in that notification.

Does one CM/L licence cover all cold-rolled steel grades and coil dimensions from the same manufacturer?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific to the grade, standard, and licensed manufacturing facility; product outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant is not covered, and a scope mismatch at customs triggers detention.

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