Plated or coated with aluminium-zinc alloys

Aluminium-zinc alloy coated flat-rolled steel strips, width under 600 mm

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 11587 · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7212 50 40 (aluminium-zinc alloy coated flat-rolled steel) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 11587 and IS 15103 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order 2024, S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024. 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

7212 50 40

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 11587 · effective 28-09-2020

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 IS 11587 (structural weather resistant steel) or IS 15103 (fire resistant steel), as applicable to the product specification. Verify the CM/L number, product scope, and licensed 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 · Schedule 1, 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-certified manufacturer. Every coil, strip, or cut length must bear the standard mark under the supplier's CM/L licence — marking on the product or packaging must be traceable to the licensed facility.
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
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date. Fee ₹500; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days and must remain within validity on the date of arrival at the Indian port.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 72
4
Quote both the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry. Comply with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS, which require strict verification of the Indian Standard of the respective input material mapped in the QCO and registration on the SIMS portal.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025
5
If the consignment lacks BIS certification, apply for a clarification on the TCQCO portal before import, as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Retain the CBIC clarification reference under F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023 in the customs filing package.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC F.No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023

A word of counsel

The most frequent compliance failure on this tariff line is assuming that one IS covers all aluminium-zinc coated steel variants: IS 11587 governs structural weather resistant steel while IS 15103 governs fire resistant steel — the CM/L licence must match the specific product specification of the consignment, not merely the heading. A supplier licensed against IS 11587 cannot cover fire-resistant-grade product, and customs detention results when the test certificate references the wrong standard. Confirm in writing, at the purchase-order stage, which IS the supplier's CM/L covers and that the coated product grade matches.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7212 50 40 require BIS certification?

Yes. Aluminium-zinc alloy coated flat-rolled steel of width under 600 mm is subject to the ISI Mark Scheme under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)), requiring import only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence against IS 11587 or IS 15103.

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

Yes. SIMS registration is administered independently by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade; fee ₹500, validity 75 days, application no earlier than 60 days before arrival. Re-imports for packaging only and SEZ-to-DTA movements without value addition are exempt from SIMS, but the BIS QCO obligation is not waived by either carve-out.

What is the difference between IS 11587 and IS 15103 for this tariff line?

IS 11587 applies to structural weather resistant steel; IS 15103 applies to fire resistant steel. The CM/L licence and accompanying test certificate must correspond to the actual product grade of the consignment — cross-citing the wrong standard triggers detention regardless of the licence's validity.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all product grades and manufacturing facilities of the same supplier?

No. A CM/L licence is specific to the Indian Standard, product grade, and licensed manufacturing facility; product outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant is not covered, and consignments with a scope mismatch face detention at port.

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