Other

Cold-rolled stainless steel flat products, 1 mm to 3 mm thick

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

HSN 7219 33 90 (cold-rolled stainless steel flat-rolled products, width 600 mm or more, thickness exceeding 1 mm but 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 Quality Control Order, 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)), with enforcement deferred to 31 March 2026 for these three standards. 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 33 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 grade and end-use). Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, applicable standard, 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
2
Ensure every consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the ISI standard mark, issued by the BIS-licensed manufacturer, traceable to the specific lot or heat. Each product must also bear the standard mark under licence per 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
3
If importing during the deferral window before 31 March 2026, apply for and obtain a clarification through the TCQCO portal for each consignment that arrives without BIS licence or certification. This obligation applies to all steel importers under the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023.
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
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 and retain the automatic registration number, which is valid for 75 days. Quote the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · ITC (HS) policy condition 5 of Chapter 72
5
Comply with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 and 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 regarding the Indian Standard mapping of input steel material on the SIMS portal. Ensure sub-standard or defective product is disposed of as scrap in accordance with Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016 (11 of 2016)

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the Ministry of Steel's deferral of IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 enforcement to 31 March 2026 as a blanket exemption from compliance obligations. The deferral suspends mandatory BIS-marked import only until that date; importers who do not obtain a TCQCO portal clarification for each unlicensed consignment during the deferral window, or who fail to establish a CM/L-licensed supply chain before the enforcement date, face consignment detention and potential confiscation from 1 April 2026 onward with no transitional relief.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7219 33 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Stainless steel flat-rolled products of this thickness range must conform to IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of S.O. 3716(E); the mandatory enforcement date is 31 March 2026 following the deferral under S.O. 5134(E).

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 date of arrival.

What is the TCQCO portal obligation during the deferral period before 31 March 2026?

The Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023 requires all steel importers to apply and obtain a clarification on the TCQCO portal for every consignment imported without BIS licence or certification; compliance with the CBIC clarification dated 09-11-2023 is also mandatory.

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 scope-specific by grade, surface condition, and manufacturing facility; products under IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 require separate licensed coverage, and flanges or grades outside the licensed scope are not covered.

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