Other

Cold-rolled stainless steel flat products, sheet, strip and coil (thin gauge, sub-3 mm)

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

HSN 7219 24 90 (cold-rolled stainless steel flat products of a thickness less than 3 mm) 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 — as applicable to the grade and end-use — is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 31 March 2026, subject to a Ministry of Steel exemption for these three standards until that date. 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 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
Identify which Indian Standard governs the consignment: IS 6911 for industrial stainless steel plate, sheet and strip; IS 5522 for utensil or consumer-grade sheet and strip; IS 15997 for low-nickel austenitic grades. Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against the applicable standard.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · IS 6911, IS 5522, IS 15997 mapped in Schedule 1
2
Verify the supplier's CM/L licence number, licensed product scope (grade, thickness range, surface condition), and licensed facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Ensure the 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 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Until 31 March 2026, the Ministry of Steel has granted an exemption from mandatory input adherence for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 on stainless steel flat products. Document and retain the Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025 (F. No. S-20011/15/2024-TECH-Part-1) as the formal exemption basis for each consignment filed before that date.
MoS Order dated 20-11-2025 vide F. No. S-20011/15/2024-TECH-Part-1 · S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025
4
If importing without a BIS CM/L licence during the exemption window, apply and seek a clarification on the TCQCO portal for each steel consignment before filing the bill of entry. Comply with the CBIC clarification at F. No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023 on the MoS circular dated 20-10-2023.
MoS Circular dated 20-10-2023 vide F. No. S-20011/14/2021-TECH · CBIC F. No. 401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
5
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal, paying a fee of ₹500, no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. The registration number is valid for 75 days. Quote both the SIMS registration number and the BIS CM/L number (or TCQCO exemption reference) on the bill of entry; strict compliance with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS is required.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025

A word of counsel

The single most consequential error on this tariff line is treating the Ministry of Steel's interim exemption for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 as indefinite relief and failing to plan CM/L sourcing ahead of the 31 March 2026 enforcement date. The exemption is time-bound; consignments arriving after that date without a valid supplier CM/L against the applicable standard face detention and potential confiscation under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016. Lead times for foreign manufacturers to obtain CM/L certification routinely exceed six months — begin supplier qualification well in advance of the deadline.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7219 24 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 are mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme pursuant to the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024, S.O. 3716(E). A Ministry of Steel order grants an exemption from mandatory input adherence for these three standards until 31 March 2026, after which CM/L compliance is required without exception.

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

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 and is independent of the BIS QCO obligation. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days, application no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

Which of the three Indian Standards applies to a given consignment?

IS 6911 governs industrial-grade stainless steel plate, sheet and strip across austenitic, ferritic and martensitic grades. IS 5522 applies to sheet and strip for utensils and consumer kitchenware. IS 15997 covers low-nickel austenitic grades for utensil and general-engineering applications. The applicable standard is determined by the alloy composition and declared end-use.

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

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by grade family, dimensional range, and licensed manufacturing facility. Material outside the licensed scope, or produced at an unlicensed plant, is not covered, and customs detains the consignment on a scope mismatch with the BIS register.

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