Trunks and cases

Iron or steel trunks and cases of 50 litres or more

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7310 10 20 (Trunks and cases) 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 of the ITC (HS) Schedule. An automatic SIMS registration number, valid for 75 days, must be obtained before the consignment arrives at the Indian port.

What this is

HSN code

7310 10 20

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2, Chapter 73 (DGFT NTFN 33/2015-20)

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
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.

Compliance steps

1
Register on the SIMS online portal and obtain an automatic registration number before the consignment's expected date of arrival. The application may be submitted no earlier than 60 days before expected arrival; the registration fee is ₹500 and the registration number remains valid for 75 days.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023 · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2, Chapter 73
2
Verify at the time of filing whether any carve-out applies: re-imports of steel containers solely for packaging purposes are excluded from SIMS, as are DTA-to-SEZ and SEZ-to-DTA movements regardless of whether value addition has occurred. Document the basis of the carve-out in the import declaration.
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 confusing the abolition of the 15-day minimum advance-registration requirement with a full dispensation from SIMS registration. The mandatory registration requirement itself remains in force under policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73; only the minimum lead-time window was removed by DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022. Importing without a valid SIMS number renders the bill of entry non-compliant, exposing the consignment to detention pending regularisation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7310 10 20 require BIS certification?

No, iron or steel trunks and cases of this tariff line are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System registration requirement under ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

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

The application may be filed no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment; the automatic registration number granted is valid for 75 days per DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023.

Are re-imports of these steel containers for packaging purposes exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, re-imports of steel goods solely for packaging — not primarily for value addition — fall outside the SIMS requirement; similarly, DTA-SEZ-DTA movements with or without value addition are also excluded.

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