Of a thickness of less than 3 mm

Cold-rolled stainless steel flat products, width 600 mm or more, under 3 mm thick

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 6911 · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7219 14 00 (cold-rolled stainless steel flat products of width 600 mm or more and thickness less than 3 mm) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)); however, the Ministry of Steel has granted a temporary exemption from mandatory adherence to all three standards until 31 March 2026. 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

7219 14 00

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 6911 · effective 20-11-2025

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
Confirm whether the Ministry of Steel exemption from mandatory adherence to IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 for stainless steel flat products remains in force beyond 31 March 2026. If the exemption has lapsed, source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer against the applicable IS.
MoS Order dated 20-11-2025 vide F.No.S-20011/15/2024-Tech-Part-1 · Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024
2
Where the CM/L licence is required, verify the foreign supplier's BIS CM/L number, licensed product scope (grade, thickness range, surface condition), and licensed manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II
3
Ensure every coil or sheet bears the ISI mark under a licence from Bureau of Indian Standards in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, and that each consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal. Fee ₹500, apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days. Re-imports for packaging only and DTA-SEZ-DTA movements without value addition are exempt from SIMS registration.
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
5
Comply with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS on mandatory SIMS portal registration for steel and steel products mapped to the QCO. If importing without BIS licence or certification during the exemption window, apply for and obtain clarification on the TCQCO portal for each consignment before arrival.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · MoS Circular dated 20-10-2023 vide F.No.S-20011/14/2021-Tech · CBIC clarification vide F.No.401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023

A word of counsel

The single most consequential oversight on this tariff line is treating the Ministry of Steel's temporary exemption for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 as a permanent relaxation. The exemption is time-bound to 31 March 2026; consignments arriving after that date without a current CM/L licence against the relevant IS face detention under the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024. Importers should also verify — before each purchase order — that the specific grade and thickness of the flat product falls within the licensed scope, since the CM/L is grade- and facility-specific, not a blanket stainless-steel approval.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7219 14 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Conformity to IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 under the ISI Mark Scheme is mandatory with effect from 20 November 2025 under the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)). A Ministry of Steel order grants a temporary exemption from mandatory adherence until 31 March 2026.

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. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days, apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

What happens when the Ministry of Steel exemption for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 expires on 31 March 2026?

The full QCO obligation resumes: import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence against the applicable IS, and consignments without a valid CM/L and ISI marking are liable to detention, re-export, or confiscation under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all stainless steel grades and thicknesses?

No. The CM/L licence is scope-specific by steel grade, thickness range, surface condition, and manufacturing facility; flat products outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant are not covered and will be detained at port on a scope mismatch.

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