Other

Cold-rolled stainless steel flat products under 3 mm wide (sheet, strip, coil)

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

HSN 7219 24 19 (cold-rolled stainless steel flat products of width 600 mm or more, under 3 mm thick) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024. Conformity to IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of S.O. 3716(E); the Ministry of Steel has granted a temporary exemption from mandatory input adherence for 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 24 19

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 6911 · 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
Verify whether the consignment's specific serial number in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 is among those suspended for 3 years under S.O. 5134(E). If suspended, document the exemption basis; if not suspended, source only from a BIS CM/L-licensed manufacturer against IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 as applicable to the product grade.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025
2
If importing under the Ministry of Steel temporary exemption from mandatory input adherence for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997, apply and obtain clarification on the TCQCO portal before shipment. This portal obligation is mandatory for all steel consignments imported without BIS licence or certification.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023, F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech · Ministry of Steel Order dated 20-11-2025, F.No. S-20011/15/2024-Tech-Part-1 · CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023
3
Ensure each consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer against the applicable Indian Standard. The product itself must bear the ISI mark under a CM/L licence in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days. Re-imports for packaging only and SEZ-to-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
Ensure strict compliance with CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 regarding the Indian Standard of the respective input material of steel products intended for import as notified under the QCO and requiring mandatory SIMS registration. Quote both the CM/L number (or exemption reference) and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · ITC (HS) Policy Condition 5 of Chapter 72

A word of counsel

The most consequential trap on this tariff line is treating the Ministry of Steel's temporary exemption from mandatory input adherence (valid until 31 March 2026) as a blanket waiver of all BIS QCO obligations. The exemption covers input adherence for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 specifically — it does not extinguish the TCQCO portal-clarification requirement, the SIMS registration obligation, or customs verification under CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS. Importers who omit the TCQCO portal step on the basis of the exemption face consignment detention irrespective of the temporary relief.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7219 24 19 require BIS certification?

Yes. Cold-rolled stainless steel flat products under this tariff line are governed by the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 under S.O. 3716(E); conformity to IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, subject to the Ministry of Steel temporary exemption from mandatory input adherence until 31 March 2026.

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. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days, with application permitted from up to 60 days before expected arrival; re-imports for packaging and qualifying SEZ-to-DTA movements are exempt.

Does the Ministry of Steel exemption until 31 March 2026 remove the TCQCO portal obligation?

No. The Ministry of Steel Order dated 20-11-2025 grants exemption from mandatory input adherence for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 only; all steel consignments imported without BIS licence or certification must still obtain clarification on the TCQCO portal before import, per the Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all three stainless steel standards under this tariff line?

No. A CM/L licence is standard-specific and grade-specific; IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 are distinct Indian Standards covering different grades and end-use categories, and the licensed scope, manufacturing facility, and product specification on the CM/L must match the consignment being imported.

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