Tubes and pipes

Seamless steel tubes and pipes (other, non-cast-iron)

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7304 19 10 (Seamless tubes and pipes of iron or steel) requires compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) per Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers the SIMS regime; importers must obtain an automatic registration number online before the consignment arrives, with Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) verifying SIMS compliance at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

7304 19 10

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73; DGFT Notification 33/2015-20

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Bill of entry declaration to CBIC
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Apply for SIMS registration online not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. The automatic registration number is valid for 75 days and requires a registration fee of ₹500; the former 15-day advance minimum has been abolished.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022
2
Quote the SIMS automatic registration number on the bill of entry and ensure it remains valid on the date of filing. CBIC officers verify the SIMS number at the bill-of-entry stage; a missing or expired registration triggers detention of the consignment pending rectification.
Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020
3
Confirm whether any SIMS exemption applies before filing: re-imports of steel for packaging purposes only and DTA-SEZ-DTA transfers (with or without value addition) are exempt from SIMS registration under DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022. Document the exemption basis explicitly in the bill of entry.
DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is applying for SIMS registration too late and arriving at port with an expired 75-day registration number, or misreading the SIMS window as starting from the shipment date rather than the expected date of arrival. The registration window closes at arrival — not at bill-of-lading date — so transit-time variability on long-haul shipments regularly produces expired numbers, triggering detention and demurrage. Separately, note that octagonal steel columns for lamp posts, sometimes shipped under this heading, are authoritatively classifiable under 7308 90 90 per CBIC Circular 17/2013-Cus dated 11-04-2013.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 7304 19 10 require BIS certification?

No, seamless steel tubes and pipes under this tariff line are not subject to any BIS Quality Control Order. The operative compliance requirement is compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System administered by DGFT under Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20.

How long is a SIMS registration number valid, and when can an importer apply?

The automatic SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days from grant; an importer may apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment, per DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023.

Are DTA-SEZ-DTA steel transfers exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Both transfers without value addition and those with value addition from DTA to SEZ and back to DTA are exempt from SIMS registration, as are re-imports of steel used solely for packaging purposes, per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022.

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