Fish-plates and sole plates

Fish-plates and sole plates for railway track

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7302 40 00 (Fish-plates and sole plates) is subject to compulsory advance 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. An automatic SIMS registration number must be obtained before the consignment arrives, with a registration fee of ₹500 and validity of 75 days.

What this is

HSN code

7302 40 00

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · DGFT policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73; 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 under the Steel Import Monitoring System by submitting advance information in the SIMS online portal and paying the ₹500 registration fee. Apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days and must be in hand before the consignment reaches port.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73
2
Verify whether the consignment qualifies for any SIMS exemption before filing the bill of entry. Re-import of steel goods solely for packaging purposes and DTA-SEZ-DTA transfers (with or without value addition) are exempt from SIMS registration and must be documented accordingly at the bill-of-entry stage.
DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the abolition of the minimum 15-day advance-registration requirement as eliminating the advance-registration obligation altogether. SIMS registration remains compulsory; only the 15-day minimum lead time has been removed per DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022. An unregistered consignment is detained at port pending SIMS compliance, and demurrage and ground rent accrue from the date of arrival.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7302 40 00 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers fish-plates and sole plates for railway track. 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 be obtained, and how long does it remain valid?

Registration may be applied for up to 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the resulting 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 lead time has been abolished.

Are DTA-SEZ-DTA transfers of fish-plates and sole plates exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, transfers from DTA to SEZ and back into DTA — whether with or without value addition — do not require SIMS registration; the exemption must be documented at the bill-of-entry stage.

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