Other:

Cold-rolled flat steel coils and sheets under 0.5 mm thick

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7209 18 90 (cold-rolled flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, width 600 mm or more, thickness less than 0.5 mm) 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 with effect from 29 August 2024, by virtue of S.O. 3716(E). 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 18 90

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 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 tariff item in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024. Verify the supplier's 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 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 consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. Verify that each product bears the standard mark under CM/L licence; sub-standard or defective material not conforming to the specified standard must be disposed of as scrap in compliance 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 of the BIS Act, 2016 (11 of 2016)
3
Check the current deferral list under S.O. 5134(E) before shipment: serial numbers 24, 37, 48, 55, 68, 69, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 81, 82, 83, 87, 88, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 104, 105, 106, 107, 112–120, 123–125, 150, and 151 are suspended for three years from gazette publication. Confirm whether this tariff item's schedule entry falls within a deferred serial number before filing the bill of entry.
S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal before import. Fee ₹500; apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; registration valid for 75 days. Quote the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry; verify compliance with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS regarding the Indian Standard of the input material.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025
5
If the consignment is imported without BIS licence or certification, apply for and obtain a clarification on the TCQCO portal before import, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. For seconds and defective CR coil or sheets, comply with the value restriction, port restriction, and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirements under policy conditions 1, 2, and 3 of Chapter 72.
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 · ITC (HS) policy conditions 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 72

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is failing to cross-check the S.O. 5134(E) deferral list before shipment: if this product's Schedule 1 serial number is among those suspended for three years, importing against a CM/L obtained for a deferred entry wastes compliance spend, while importing without a licence on an active (non-deferred) entry invites consignment detention, demurrage, and ground rent at port. Separately, importers who satisfy SIMS but cannot produce a valid test certificate bearing the standard mark face the same detention outcome — SIMS clearance does not substitute for BIS product-level compliance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7209 18 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. This tariff item falls under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)); conformity to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme from 29 August 2024, and import is permitted only from CM/L-licensed manufacturers.

Is Steel Import Monitoring System registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and is independent of the BIS QCO. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days, apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; SIMS carve-outs for re-import for packaging or SEZ-to-DTA movements do not waive the BIS obligation.

How does the S.O. 5134(E) deferral affect this tariff item?

S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement for specific Schedule 1 serial numbers for three years from gazette publication. Importers must confirm whether the serial number covering this cold-rolled sub-0.5 mm product is deferred before treating it as either exempt or obligated.

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

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by Indian Standard, thickness range, and licensed manufacturing facility; product outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant is not covered and triggers detention on customs verification.

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