Strip

Cold-rolled flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel strip under 0.5 mm

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7209 28 30 (cold-rolled flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel strip of 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 by virtue of S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024. 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 28 30

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products QCO · 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 in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 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 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 ISI standard mark, issued by the BIS-licensed manufacturer. The product must bear the standard mark under the CM/L licence; sub-standard or defective material not conforming to the specified Indian Standard must be disposed of as scrap to avoid violation of 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
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal no 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 number must remain within validity on the date of arrival.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72
4
Apply on the TCQCO portal for a clarification certificate for any consignment imported without BIS licence or certification, as mandated by Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023. Ensure compliance with CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023 on that circular, and with CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 regarding SIMS registration for QCO-notified steel products.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023 (F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech) · CBIC 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 importing seconds or defective CR coil or strip, comply with the value restriction, port restriction, and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under Policy Conditions 1, 2, and 3 of Chapter 72. Price restriction on prime steel items applies as specified in the Madras High Court order dated 21-01-2004 in W.P. Nos. 38864 and 38865 of 2003.
Policy Conditions 1, 2 and 3 of Chapter 72 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · Madras High Court order dated 21-01-2004

A word of counsel

The single most critical oversight on this tariff line is failing to identify the specific Indian Standard serial number applicable to this sub-5 mm cold-rolled strip within Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 — S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 has suspended enforcement of select serial numbers in that Schedule for three years, and an importer who relies on a CM/L anchored to a suspended serial number may unwittingly import non-conforming product while believing it is covered. Before placing the purchase order, confirm with the licensed supplier exactly which Schedule 1 serial number governs this product and verify that it is not among the serial numbers suspended under S.O. 5134(E).

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7209 28 30 require BIS certification?

Yes. Cold-rolled strip of thickness less than 0.5 mm under this tariff line must conform to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 under the ISI Mark Scheme; import from a manufacturer without a current BIS CM/L licence is not permitted.

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 obligation. The fee is ₹500, the registration number is valid for 75 days, and it must be obtained no earlier than 60 days before expected arrival.

Do any of the S.O. 5134(E) enforcement suspensions affect the BIS obligation for this strip?

Potentially. S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspended enforcement of specific Schedule 1 serial numbers for three years from gazette publication; if this strip's governing IS serial number is among those listed, the BIS marking obligation under that specific standard is temporarily inoperative. Confirm the applicable serial number against S.O. 5134(E) before import.

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

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by product specification, thickness range, and manufacturing facility; strip outside the licensed scope or produced at an unlicensed plant is not covered, and customs detains consignments where the CM/L scope does not match the bill of entry.

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