With aluminium
Flat-rolled aluminium-bearing alloy steel strip and sheet, width under 600 mm
HSN 7226 99 81 (flat-rolled products of other alloy steel, width less than 600 mm, with aluminium) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2020. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standard is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 22 December 2020, by virtue of S.O. 4637(E). Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.
Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- 1Identify the precise product specification — structural steel strip for seismic-resistant buildings (IS 15962:2012), hot-dip aluminium-zinc alloy coated sheet (IS 15961:2012), prepainted aluminium-zinc coated sheet (IS 15965:2012), or another standard in the Schedule — and source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer against that specific IS. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 4637(E) dated 22-12-2020 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, Scheme-I of Schedule-II
- 2Ensure each product unit bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number under Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The mark must appear on the product or coil tag traceable to the licensed batch, not on outer packaging alone.Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 4637(E) dated 22-12-2020 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
- 3Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal before shipment — no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Obtain the automatic registration number, which remains valid for 75 days; the registration must be within validity on the date of arrival.ITC (HS) policy condition 5 of Chapter 72 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023
- 4For every consignment imported without a BIS licence or certification, apply on the TCQCO portal for clarification from the Ministry of Steel before filing the bill of entry. This is a mandatory step under the Ministry of Steel circular dated 20-10-2023, confirmed by CBIC. Quote both the BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry.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
- 5If the consignment qualifies as a re-import for packaging purposes or an SEZ-to-DTA movement, document the SIMS exemption basis in writing. The BIS QCO obligation under S.O. 4637(E) is not waived by either SIMS carve-out — the ISI-marked product requirement continues to apply independently.DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022
The single most common error on this tariff line is treating HSN 7226 99 81 as a single-IS entry and defaulting to IS 15962:2012, when in practice the consignment may fall under IS 15961:2012 (hot-dip aluminium-zinc coated, plain), IS 15965:2012 (prepainted aluminium-zinc coated), or another standard in the Schedule depending on coating type and end-use. Customs verifies the CM/L scope against the declared IS number in real time; a CM/L issued against IS 15961:2012 does not cover a consignment properly classified under IS 15962:2012, and the mismatch triggers detention regardless of SIMS registration status. Confirm the precise product specification and the corresponding IS number with the supplier — in writing and referencing the BIS standard title — before issuing the purchase order.