Of iron

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

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7304 31 21 (cold-drawn or cold-rolled seamless tubes of iron) requires 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. Importers must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number before the consignment arrives, with Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) verification at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

7304 31 21

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
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Chapter 73 qualifier 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
Register the impending consignment on the SIMS online portal and obtain the automatic registration number before the expected date of arrival. Registration may be applied for up to 60 days before arrival; the registration number is valid for 75 days from issuance. The registration fee is ₹500.
DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · Policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73
2
Quote the SIMS automatic registration number on the bill of entry at the time of import filing. Note that the earlier requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration before the expected date of arrival has been abolished and no minimum lead-time applies.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023
3
Confirm whether the consignment falls within a SIMS exemption before registration: re-imports of steel solely for packaging purposes and transfers between DTA and SEZ (with or without value addition) are not subject to SIMS registration requirements.
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 75-day validity window of the SIMS registration to lapse between registration and actual port arrival — particularly when shipping schedules slip. An expired SIMS registration number renders the bill of entry non-compliant, resulting in customs detention and demurrage while a fresh registration is obtained. Apply for registration as close to the confirmed vessel departure date as practicable, not at the earliest permitted 60-day window.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7304 31 21 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers cold-drawn or cold-rolled seamless iron tubes under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020.

What is the validity period of the SIMS registration number, and is there a minimum advance-registration window?

The automatic SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days from the date of issuance per DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023; the earlier requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration has been abolished by DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022.

Are SEZ-to-DTA transfers of cold-rolled iron tubes exempt from SIMS registration?

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

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