Other

Stainless steel flat-rolled strip and sheet, under 4.75 mm thick

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

HSN 7220 12 90 (stainless steel flat-rolled products of width less than 600 mm and thickness less than 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 (S.O. 3716(E)). 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

7220 12 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 the applicable Indian Standard — IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 — on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Confirm the licensed scope covers the specific grade, thickness, and manufacturing facility.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Ensure every consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the ISI standard mark, issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer and traceable to the specific consignment. The mark must appear on the product; certification by the manufacturer under the CM/L is a pre-shipment obligation, not a post-arrival remedy.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee ₹500, SIMS registration number valid for 75 days; the registration must remain within validity on the date of arrival.
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
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies both in real time; a CM/L that is absent, expired, or whose scope excludes the imported grade triggers detention under CBIC instructions, and sub-standard material must be disposed of as scrap.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016
5
If importing without a BIS licence or certification, apply immediately for a clarification on the TCQCO portal as mandated by the Ministry of Steel circular. Note that is IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 are granted an exemption from mandatory input adherence until 31 March 2026 per the Ministry of Steel order; document this exemption basis on the file.
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 · Ministry of Steel Order dated 20-11-2025 · F.No.S-20011/15/2024-Tech-Part-1

A word of counsel

The single most consequential trap on this tariff line is failing to track the Ministry of Steel's time-bound exemption for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997 — which runs only until 31 March 2026. Importers relying on that exemption who do not transition to CM/L-licensed supply chains before the exemption lapses will face detention on every consignment the moment the exemption expires, with no transitional clearance mechanism at port. The exemption must be documented affirmatively on each bill of entry while it is live, and a supplier certification roadmap must be in place well before its expiry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7220 12 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Conformity to IS 6911, IS 5522, or IS 15997 (as applicable to the product grade) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme pursuant to the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the relevant grade and facility.

Is Steel Import Monitoring System registration required in addition to BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, is independent of the BIS obligation, costs ₹500, and the registration number must remain valid for 75 days from issue and be current on the date of arrival.

What is the Ministry of Steel exemption for IS 6911, IS 5522, and IS 15997, and how long does it last?

The Ministry of Steel order dated 20-11-2025 grants an exemption from mandatory input adherence for these three stainless-steel flat-product standards until 31 March 2026. The exemption must be documented on the bill of entry; the full BIS CM/L obligation resumes after that date without further transitional provision.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all stainless steel grades and thicknesses within HSN 7220 12 90?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by Indian Standard, steel grade, thickness range, and manufacturing facility; material outside the licensed parameters is not covered and customs detains the consignment on a scope mismatch against the BIS register.

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