Of die steel quality

Die steel quality semi-finished alloy steel in primary forms

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7224 90 20 (alloy steel semi-finished products of die steel quality) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 29 August 2024, by virtue of S.O. 3716(E). 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

7224 90 20

Chapter

72 · Iron and steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS mapped in Schedule 1 of S.O. 3716(E) · effective 29-08-2024

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 whose current licence covers the Indian Standard mapped against this tariff item in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024. Verify the CM/L number, licensed IS scope, 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 · 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-licensed manufacturer against the applicable Indian Standard. The standard mark must also appear on the product itself, not on packaging alone.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016
3
Before shipment, verify whether the specific IS serial number for this tariff item falls within the suspension lists under S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025. Serial numbers in the 3-year suspension group and the 1-year suspension group have differing operative timelines that affect the enforcement date of the BIS obligation.
S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 amending Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Pay the registration fee of ₹500; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days. The minimum 15-day advance registration requirement has been abolished.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022
5
If the consignment lacks a BIS CM/L licence or certification, apply on the TCQCO portal for each such consignment in compliance with the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023. Quote the BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry; comply with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS on mandatory SIMS mapping of the applicable Indian Standard.
Ministry of Steel circular F.No. S-20011/14/2021-Tech dated 20-10-2023 · 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 most consequential oversight on this tariff line is failing to cross-check the specific IS serial number for die steel quality semi-finished alloy steel against the suspension schedules in S.O. 5134(E) before committing to a shipment under BIS compliance. An importer who has sourced a CM/L-licensed supplier and arranged SIMS registration may still face unnecessary compliance expenditure or, conversely, consignment detention if the operative enforcement date for the relevant IS entry has been deferred by 1 or 3 years — or has already resumed. The suspension lists in S.O. 5134(E) are long and entry-specific; generic QCO compliance timelines do not substitute for line-item verification.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7224 90 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Die steel quality alloy steel in semi-finished primary forms must conform to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 under the ISI Mark Scheme, with effect from 29 August 2024 per S.O. 3716(E). Import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence.

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 obligation. The fee is ₹500, the registration is valid for 75 days, and application may be made no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival.

Do the suspension entries under S.O. 5134(E) affect the BIS obligation on this tariff line?

Potentially. S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement of specific IS serial numbers in Schedule 1 for either 1 year or 3 years from the gazette date. The IS serial number mapped to HSN 7224 90 20 must be checked against both suspension lists to determine the currently operative enforcement date.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all die steel grades and manufacturing facilities?

No. A CM/L licence is facility-specific and scope-specific by Indian Standard, steel grade, and product form. Die steel variants or manufacturing plants outside the licensed scope are not covered, and customs detains consignments where the bill of entry product scope does not match the CM/L.

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