Other

Flat-rolled stainless steel, 3 mm to 4.75 mm thickness (sheet, plate, strip, coil)

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

HSN 7219 32 90 (flat-rolled stainless steel of width 600 mm or more, thickness 3 mm or more but less than 4.75 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 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 28 September 2020; note that 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 (SIMS) registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

7219 32 90

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 the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence number against IS 6911 (general industrial stainless flat products), IS 5522 (utensil-grade stainless sheet/strip), or IS 15997 (low-nickel austenitic stainless flat products) on the BIS online register. Confirm the licensed grade, product form, and manufacturing facility match the consignment 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
2
Confirm with the Ministry of Steel TCQCO portal whether the temporary exemption from mandatory input adherence for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 under the Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025 applies to the consignment. The exemption runs until 31-03-2026; consignments arriving after that date must carry full ISI-mark compliance.
Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025 · F.No. S-20011/15/2024-Tech-Part-1
3
Ensure every coil, sheet, or plate in the consignment bears the ISI mark under the supplier's CM/L licence number. Each consignment must be accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer, as required by the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024.
Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, Scheme-I of Schedule-II
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days from issue. 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
For any consignment imported without a BIS licence or certification, apply on the TCQCO portal for clarification before the bill of entry is filed, per the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Quote the BIS CM/L number and SIMS registration number on the bill of entry; verify compliance with CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025.
Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023 · F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech · CBIC clarification F.No. 401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023 · CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025

A word of counsel

The critical trap on this tariff line is treating the Ministry of Steel's temporary exemption from mandatory input adherence (effective until 31 March 2026) as a suspension of the BIS QCO itself. The exemption relaxes the input-material IS adherence requirement for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 — it does not suspend the obligation to file on the TCQCO portal, maintain SIMS registration, or present the test certificate with each consignment. Importers who interpret the exemption as full QCO relief face detention at port when customs verifies consignment documentation against the Steel and Steel Products QCO 2024.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7219 32 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Flat-rolled stainless steel of this thickness band requires conformity to IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 under the ISI Mark Scheme from 28 September 2020; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the relevant grade and facility. A temporary exemption from mandatory input adherence for all three standards applies until 31 March 2026 under the Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025.

Is SIMS 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 does the Ministry of Steel exemption dated 20-11-2025 actually waive?

The exemption suspends mandatory input-material IS adherence for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 until 31 March 2026. It does not waive the TCQCO portal filing obligation, the test certificate requirement, or SIMS registration; consignments without those documents remain subject to detention.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all stainless steel grades and product forms under this HSN?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by IS number, steel grade, product form (sheet, plate, strip, coil), and manufacturing facility; material outside the licensed grade or from a different plant is not covered.

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