Sheets
Cold-rolled flat steel sheets, carbon content below 0.25%
HSN 7211 23 40 (cold-rolled flat steel sheets with carbon content below 0.25%) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024. Every consignment must conform to the applicable Indian Standard in Schedule 1 of that order and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence, with effect from 29 August 2024. Steel Import Monitoring System registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.
Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- 1Identify the specific Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 for this product. Source only from a BIS CM/L-licensed manufacturer whose licence covers that IS number, the relevant grade, and the manufacturing facility from which the consignment ships.Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024
- 2Ensure every sheet in the consignment bears the ISI standard mark under a BIS CM/L licence per Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The mark must appear on the product or in a manner specified by BIS for flat-rolled steel.Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024
- 3Obtain a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer, and ensure it accompanies each consignment. Sub-standard or defective material that does not conform to the specified standard must be disposed of as scrap to avoid contravention 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(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016
- 4Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee ₹500; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days from issue. SIMS carve-outs for re-import of steel for packaging only and SEZ-DTA movements without value addition remain applicable.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
- 5Comply with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS on mapping the Indian Standard of the imported steel to the QCO schedule, and with the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023 requiring every importer to apply on the TCQCO portal for clarification on each consignment imported without BIS licence or certification. Quote the BIS CM/L number and SIMS registration number on the bill of entry.CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · MoS circular F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC F.No. 401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023
The most common failure on this tariff line is importing against a BIS CM/L licence that covers a different product grade or manufacturing facility than the actual consignment — the CM/L is scope-specific and facility-specific, and a scope mismatch is treated identically to the absence of a licence at port, triggering detention. Additionally, note that S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement for certain serial-number entries in Schedule 1 for three years; verify whether the IS number mapped to this CTI is among the suspended entries before the purchase order, not at the time of customs filing.