Other

Steel rails for railway or tramway track construction

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7302 10 19 (Other rails) requires compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS), administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. For used or cut rails under ITC (HS) code 7302, import is free subject to a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming permissible background radiation levels and contractual absence of radioactive contamination per ITC (HS) Condition 1 to Chapter 73.

What this is

HSN code

7302 10 19

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 73; DGFT Notification 33/2015-20

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
ITC (HS) Chapter 73 policy 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
Obtain an automatic SIMS registration number through the DGFT online portal by submitting advance import information and paying the registration fee of ₹500. Apply no earlier than the 60th day before the expected date of arrival; the registration number remains valid for 75 days.
DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 73
2
If importing used or cut rails of any length under ITC (HS) code 7302, produce a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from the exporting country confirming permissible background radiation levels, and ensure the supply contract expressly stipulates the absence of radioactive contamination.
ITC (HS) Condition 1 to Chapter 73

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing the bill of entry before the SIMS registration number has been obtained — or applying too late to obtain one with adequate validity. The 75-day validity window runs from the date of automatic grant, not from the date of arrival; a registration that expires before the vessel berths leaves the consignment without a valid SIMS number at out-of-charge, attracting detention. Note also that re-imports of steel for packaging purposes and DTA-SEZ-DTA movements without value addition are exempt from SIMS registration under DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, but this carve-out must be affirmatively documented at the bill of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7302 10 19 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers this rail product family. Import is governed by compulsory SIMS registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20.

Has the 15-day minimum advance registration requirement under SIMS been abolished?

Yes. The requirement to register at least 15 days before the expected date of arrival was abolished by DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022; the importer may apply up to the 60th day before arrival, and the registration number remains valid for 75 days.

Are re-imports of steel rails for packaging purposes or DTA-SEZ-DTA movements exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Re-imports of steel primarily for packaging (not value addition) and both value-added and non-value-added DTA-SEZ-DTA movements are exempt from SIMS registration per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, but the exempt basis must be documented at the bill of entry.

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