Of iron

Seamless cold-drawn or cold-rolled iron tubes and pipes

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7304 31 11 (cold-drawn or cold-rolled seamless tubes of iron) requires compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) per policy condition 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) apply as policy overlays governing registration fees, validity windows, and tariff classification.

What this is

HSN code

7304 31 11

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

SIMS automatic registration number from DGFT
Registration fee receipt from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy compliance from CBIC

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 advance registration through the DGFT online portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the import consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500; the automatic registration number issued is valid for 75 days and must be presented at the bill-of-entry stage.
DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · Policy condition 2 of Chapter 73
2
Note that the earlier requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration window before expected arrival has been abolished; registration may now be obtained at any point within the 60-day window. Confirm the SIMS registration number is live and within its 75-day validity at the time of filing the bill of entry.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022
3
Verify that the consignment is not exempt from SIMS: re-imports of steel solely for packaging purposes and steel moved between the Domestic Tariff Area and a Special Economic Zone (with or without value addition) are outside SIMS scope and do not require registration.
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 allowing the SIMS registration number to lapse before the bill of entry is filed — the 75-day validity window runs from the date of registration, not from the vessel's estimated departure. An expired registration number at the bill-of-entry stage triggers Customs out-of-charge refusal and accumulates demurrage and ground rent while a fresh application is processed; re-registration cannot be backdated.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7304 31 11 require BIS certification?

No, seamless cold-drawn or cold-rolled iron tubes are not covered by a BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System per DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 and policy condition 2 of Chapter 73.

How early can a SIMS registration be applied for, and how long does it remain valid?

Registration may be applied for no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days from the date of grant per DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023.

Are DTA-to-SEZ steel transfers and re-imports for packaging exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, re-imports of steel for packaging purposes and DTA-SEZ movements (whether with or without value addition) fall outside SIMS scope and do not require advance registration.

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