Head hardened rails

Head hardened steel rails for railway track construction

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7302 10 11 (Head hardened rails) is subject to compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. The importer must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number by paying a fee of ₹500 before the consignment arrives, with the registration remaining valid for 75 days.

What this is

HSN code

7302 10 11

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73, ITC (HS); DGFT Notification 33/2015-20

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Register on the SIMS online portal and obtain an automatic registration number by paying ₹500. Apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the registration number is valid for 75 days and must be available at the bill of entry stage.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73, ITC (HS)
2
Where the consignment consists of used rails (including cut rails of all lengths), produce a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from the exporting country indicating permissible background radiation levels, together with a contract stipulating the absence of radioactive contamination. This requirement is independent of SIMS registration.
ITC (HS) Condition 1 to Chapter 73

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is misapplying the SIMS exemptions: re-importation of steel goods solely for packaging purposes and DTA-SEZ-DTA movements (with or without value addition) are carved out of SIMS registration under DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, but importers frequently register for these transactions unnecessarily or — more dangerously — assume the carve-out extends to ordinary commercial imports of head hardened rails, where SIMS registration remains compulsory and an absent registration number at the bill of entry stage will trigger detention.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7302 10 11 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers head hardened rails under this tariff line. Import is governed by compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 and Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73.

How far in advance must the SIMS registration number be obtained, and how long does it remain valid?

Application may be made up to 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days per DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023. The earlier requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration has been abolished under DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022.

Are DTA-to-SEZ-to-DTA steel movements exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, steel imported into the DTA from an SEZ — whether with or without value addition — does not require SIMS registration; re-imports of steel solely for packaging purposes are similarly excluded.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: SIMS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.