Other

Hot-rolled stainless steel flat-rolled products, 3 mm to under 4.75 mm thick

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

HSN 7219 23 90 (stainless steel flat-rolled products of width 600 mm or more, thickness 3 mm to under 4.75 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 Quality Control Order, 2024; enforcement is effective from 31 March 2026, subject to a Ministry of Steel-granted exemption for these three standards until that date. Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

7219 23 90

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 6911 · effective 31-03-2026

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 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 (as applicable to the stainless steel grade and end-use). Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, grade range, 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; IS 6911, IS 5522, IS 15997
2
Confirm that each consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the ISI standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer. Every flat-rolled product must bear the standard mark under CM/L licence in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024; BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 Scheme-I of Schedule-II
3
Monitor the Ministry of Steel exemption: IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 have been granted exemption from mandatory BIS input adherence until 31 March 2026 per the Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025. Ensure your compliance readiness is in place before the exemption expires; consignments arriving after that date require full CM/L certification.
Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025, F.No. S-20011/15/2024-Tech-Part-1; S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025
4
Register the consignment on the SIMS 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. SEZ-to-DTA movements without value addition and re-imports for packaging purposes 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
If importing without a BIS CM/L licence during the exemption window, apply and seek clarification on the TCQCO portal for each consignment, and ensure compliance with CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025. Quote both the SIMS registration number and the applicable standard reference on the bill of entry.
Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023, F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech; CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025; CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025; CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the Ministry of Steel exemption for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 as an indefinite waiver rather than a time-limited suspension expiring 31 March 2026. Importers who have not initiated CM/L licensing with their suppliers before the exemption lapses will face consignment detention at port from the first shipment to arrive post-deadline — BIS does not grant grace periods at the bill-of-entry stage. Begin the supplier CM/L qualification process now, not when the exemption window closes.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7219 23 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 are mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)); enforcement is effective from 31 March 2026, with a Ministry of Steel exemption operative until that date.

Is SIMS registration required in addition to BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is a separate customs-clearance overlay administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade; fee ₹500, registration valid 75 days, apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

Does the Ministry of Steel exemption also waive the SIMS registration and TCQCO portal requirements?

No. The exemption under the Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025 covers only mandatory BIS CM/L input adherence for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 until 31 March 2026. SIMS registration and the TCQCO portal declaration requirement remain in full force for every consignment imported without a BIS licence during the exemption window.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all three stainless steel standards and all product grades?

No. A CM/L licence is standard-specific and grade-specific; IS 6911 covers general-industrial grades, IS 5522 covers consumer/utensil grades, and IS 15997 covers low-nickel austenitic grades. Product outside the licensed standard, grade, and facility is not covered.

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