Of iron

Welded or open-seam iron tubes, pipes and hollow profiles

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7306 19 21 (Of iron) 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. A registration fee of ₹500 applies, and the automatic registration number — valid for 75 days — must be obtained before the consignment arrives at the Indian port.

What this is

HSN code

7306 19 21

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Chapter 73 qualifiers 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 registration through the DGFT online portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment, paying a registration fee of ₹500. The automatic registration number issued is valid for 75 days and must be held at the time of bill of entry filing.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 73
2
Verify the consignment is not exempt from SIMS: re-imports of steel solely for packaging purposes and DTA-SEZ-DTA movements (with or without value addition) are excluded from the registration requirement. Any other import of iron tubes and hollow profiles under this CTI requires a valid SIMS number at out-of-charge.
DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is confusing the abolition of the 15-day advance-registration minimum with a removal of the SIMS obligation itself. The mandatory advance-registration window of at least 15 days was abolished by DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022, but compulsory SIMS registration as such remains in force. Importers who file the bill of entry with an expired or absent registration number face detention and ground rent pending SIMS compliance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7306 19 21 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers this product family. Import of welded or open-seam iron tubes and hollow profiles 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.

How long is the SIMS registration number valid, and when can the application be filed?

The automatic SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days from the date of grant. Applications may be submitted up to 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the import consignment, per DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023.

Are DTA-to-SEZ-to-DTA movements of iron pipes exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, steel or steel items exported from the DTA to an SEZ and then re-imported into the DTA — whether with or without value addition — are not required to obtain SIMS registration.

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