U sections

U sections of iron or non-alloy steel

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7216 31 00 (U sections of iron or non-alloy steel) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024. Conformity to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of S.O. 3716(E) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme 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.

What this is

HSN code

7216 31 00

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 holding a current licence against the Indian Standard specified for U sections in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024. 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
2
Ensure every consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the BIS standard mark, issued by the CM/L-licensed manufacturer, as required under Schedule 1. The standard mark must also appear on the product itself in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
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 date of arrival. Pay the registration fee of ₹500; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days and must remain within validity on the arrival date.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry. Per CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS, customs verifies the mapped Indian Standard of each steel product against the QCO schedule; absent, expired, or scope-mismatched CM/L numbers trigger consignment detention.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · Policy condition 5 of Chapter 72
5
If importing without BIS certification, apply immediately on the TCQCO portal for each consignment before arrival and seek clarification as required by the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Sub-standard or defective material that fails conformity must be disposed of as scrap — not re-sold — in compliance with Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
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 · Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016 (11 of 2016)

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming that a CM/L licence held by the foreign manufacturer for one structural section category automatically covers U sections supplied from the same facility. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by product form and size range; a licence issued for I sections or angles does not extend to U sections, and customs verification against the BIS register at the time of filing the bill of entry will expose the gap — triggering detention, demurrage, and a mandatory TCQCO portal referral for each affected consignment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7216 31 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. U sections under this tariff line must conform to the Indian Standard specified in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 under the ISI Mark Scheme, with effect from 29 August 2024; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. Steel Import Monitoring System registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and is independent of the BIS QCO obligation; the fee is ₹500, registration is valid for 75 days, and application may be made no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival.

Do any SIMS carve-outs also exempt the consignment from the BIS QCO?

No. The SIMS exemptions for re-imports for packaging and SEZ-to-DTA movements under DGFT policy circular 38/2015-20 do not relax the BIS QCO obligation; the ISI-marked product requirement under S.O. 3716(E) continues to apply independently.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all structural section profiles from the same manufacturer?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by product form, size range, and manufacturing facility; U sections outside the exact licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant are not covered and will be detained at customs.

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