Other

Flat-rolled high speed steel strips and narrow strips

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7226 20 12 (flat-rolled products of high speed steel, width less than 600 mm) is covered by the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024, notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards vide S.O. 3716(E) dated 29 August 2024. Every consignment must conform to the Indian Standard mapped in Schedule 1 of the controlling Quality Control Order and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence. 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

7226 20 12

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 licence scope covers flat-rolled high speed steel of the relevant width, thickness, and grade. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing 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 each consignment is accompanied by a test certificate bearing the standard mark, issued by the BIS-licensed manufacturer. Every product must bear the ISI mark under licence; sub-standard or defective material not conforming to the applicable Indian Standard must be disposed of as scrap to prevent violation of Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016 (11 of 2016)
3
If the consignment is imported without BIS licence or certification, apply for and obtain a clarification on the TCQCO portal before import, as mandated for all steel importers. Retain the CBIC clarification reference alongside the bill of entry documentation.
Ministry of Steel Circular dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC clarification F.No.401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date; fee ₹500, validity 75 days. Re-imports for packaging only and SEZ-to-DTA movements are exempt from SIMS registration per the documented carve-outs.
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
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS automatic registration number on the bill of entry. Comply with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS and 23/2025-CUS regarding the Indian Standard of the input material as mapped in the QCO; absent, expired, or scope-mismatched details trigger consignment detention.
CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 · ITC (HS) policy condition 5 of Chapter 72

A word of counsel

The most frequent oversight on this tariff line is failing to ascertain the specific IS number mapped against HSN 7226 20 12 in Schedule 1 of S.O. 3716(E) before contracting with a supplier — the QCO references a schedule, and the CM/L licence must cover the exact IS entry for this tariff item, not a neighbouring high speed steel standard. Additionally, note that S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 has suspended enforcement of certain serial numbers in Schedule 1 for one year; verify whether the serial entry for this HSN is among those suspended before assuming full QCO operability.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7226 20 12 require BIS certification?

Yes. Every flat-rolled high speed steel product under this tariff item must conform to the Indian Standard in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024, and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence with effect from 29 August 2024.

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 policy condition 5 of Chapter 72; fee ₹500, validity 75 days, apply no earlier than 60 days before arrival. It is independent of the BIS CM/L requirement.

Has enforcement of any Schedule 1 entries been temporarily suspended?

Yes. S.O. 5134(E) dated 20-11-2025 suspends enforcement of IS entries at specific serial numbers in Schedule 1 for one year from gazette publication. Importers must verify whether the serial entry for HSN 7226 20 12 falls within the suspended list before each shipment.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all high speed steel grades and widths under this heading?

No. The CM/L licence is scope-specific by Indian Standard, product dimensions, grade, and manufacturing facility; material outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant is not covered and will be detained at port.

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