Strip

Cold-rolled flat-rolled strip of non-alloy steel, carbon under 0.25%

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7211 23 50 (cold-rolled strip of iron or non-alloy steel containing less than 0.25% carbon by weight) 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 per 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

7211 23 50

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS per 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 whose licence covers the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 for this strip product. Verify the CM/L number, licensed standard, 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. Each product must bear the ISI mark under the CM/L licence; non-conforming or sub-standard material 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
Verify whether this specific steel product's serial number in Schedule 1 falls within the deferred enforcement list. S.O. 5134(E) suspends enforcement for specified serial numbers for three years from gazette publication; confirm applicability before concluding the import is QCO-obligated.
S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days; the registration must remain within validity on the date of arrival. SIMS carve-outs for re-import for packaging and SEZ-to-DTA movements (without value addition) are documented exceptions.
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 · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry. If importing without BIS licence or certification, apply for clarification on the TCQCO portal for each consignment as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023, read with CBIC instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025.
Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023 · 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

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the SIMS registration as the primary compliance gate and overlooking the mandatory TCQCO portal clarification requirement for any consignment imported without a BIS CM/L licence. Customs will detain a consignment that lacks either a valid CM/L-backed test certificate or a documented TCQCO portal clearance — SIMS registration alone does not discharge the BIS QCO obligation. Additionally, importers must independently confirm whether their specific Schedule 1 serial number falls within the S.O. 5134(E) deferred enforcement list before concluding that the BIS QCO is operative.

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 7211 23 50 require BIS certification?

Yes. Cold-rolled strip of iron or non-alloy steel with less than 0.25% carbon is covered by the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 under S.O. 3716(E); import requires a CM/L-licensed manufacturer under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 29 August 2024.

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

Yes. SIMS registration is an independent customs-clearance overlay administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade; fee ₹500, validity 75 days, apply no earlier than 60 days before expected arrival. It does not substitute for the BIS CM/L obligation.

Does S.O. 5134(E) suspend the BIS QCO obligation for this strip product?

S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 defers enforcement for specific serial numbers listed in Schedule 1 for three years from gazette publication. Whether this tariff item's mapped IS falls within the deferred list must be verified against the Schedule 1 serial numbers enumerated in that notification.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all strip widths and thickness ranges from the same manufacturer?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by Indian Standard, product specification, and licensed manufacturing facility; strip dimensions or facilities outside the licensed scope are not covered, and customs detains consignments on a scope mismatch.

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