Sheets

Cold-rolled flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel sheets, under 0.5 mm thick

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7209 18 20 (cold-rolled flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel sheets of less than 0.5 mm thickness) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024. Conformity to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the controlling Quality Control Order is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 29 August 2024, by virtue of 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

7209 18 20

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS as mapped in Schedule 1 of S.O. 3716(E) · 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 Indian Standard mapped to this product in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, thickness range, 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 each consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the ISI standard mark, issued by the BIS-licensed manufacturer. Every sheet must bear the standard mark under the CM/L licence; sub-standard product must be disposed of as scrap to avoid violation of Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016 (11 of 2016)
3
Register on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. The registration fee is ₹500 and the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days. The previous 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 for clarification on the TCQCO portal for each consignment imported without a BIS CM/L licence or certification, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Confirm compliance with Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS regarding the Indian Standard of the input steel material.
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 · CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025
5
If the consignment comprises seconds or defective cold-rolled sheets, observe the value restriction, port restriction, and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement. Re-imports of steel for packaging only and SEZ-to-DTA transfers without value addition are exempt from SIMS registration; document the exemption basis in writing.
Policy Conditions 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 72 ITC (HS) · DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The most consequential oversight on this tariff line is importing under the assumption that the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 Schedule 1 deferral under S.O. 5134(E) applies to this product's serial number, when it does not. S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement only for specific serial numbers listed in Schedule 1; importers who assume a blanket three-year deferral without confirming their product's serial-number status arrive at port with unmarked, unlicensed steel and face outright detention — not a paperwork cure — because the BIS CM/L and standard-mark obligations remain live for all other Schedule 1 entries.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7209 18 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Cold-rolled flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel sheets of less than 0.5 mm thickness fall under the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 and require conformity to the applicable Indian Standard under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 29 August 2024; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. Steel Import Monitoring System registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, is independent of the BIS CM/L obligation, and requires submission of advance information with a ₹500 fee, generating an automatic registration number valid for 75 days.

Does the three-year deferral under S.O. 5134(E) apply to this cold-rolled sheet product?

Only if the product's serial number in Schedule 1 of the QCO is among those explicitly listed in S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025. Importers must confirm the specific serial-number status; the deferral is not blanket across all Schedule 1 entries.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all thickness ranges and manufacturing facilities?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by product specification, thickness range, and licensed manufacturing facility; sheets outside the licensed scope or produced at an unlicensed plant are not covered and attract detention at customs.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-18. Source: BIS / SIMS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.