Other

Iron or steel cans closed by soldering or crimping (tinplate, tin-free steel)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7310 21 90 (iron or steel cans closed by soldering or crimping) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Input materials — tin plate and tin-free steel — must conform to the Indian Standards specified in Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024, bearing the ISI mark under a CM/L licence, with effect from 14 November 2021. Steel Import Monitoring System registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

7310 21 90

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS per Schedule 1 of S.O. 3716(E) · effective 14-11-2021

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

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

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the tin plate and tin-free steel input materials used in the cans bear the ISI mark under a current BIS CM/L licence corresponding to serial numbers 108 and 109 of Schedule 1 of the Steel and Steel Products QCO. Source only from CM/L-licensed manufacturers and confirm licence validity, scope, and facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Obtain the test certificate for the input material (tin plate or tin-free steel) and ensure it accompanies the consignment. The finished goods must be accompanied by this test certificate as mandated by Schedule 2 of the QCO for serial numbers 3 to 7.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024
3
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal, applying no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date. Fee ₹500; the registration number remains valid for 75 days. Verify the Indian Standard of the input material against the SIMS portal mapping per CBIC Instructions 16/25-CUS and 23/25-CUS.
DGFT Notification 33/15-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/23 dated 28-08-2023 · CBIC Instruction 16/25-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/25-CUS dated 15-07-2025
4
If importing without BIS licence or certification for the input material, apply on the TCQCO portal for a clarification from the Ministry of Steel before the consignment arrives. Compliance with this portal requirement is mandatory for each such steel consignment.
Ministry of Steel Circular F.No.S-20011/14/2021-TECH dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC clarification F.No.401/88/2023-CUS.III dated 09-11-2023
5
Check whether the consignment qualifies for the QCO exemption for goods with a bill of lading shipped-on-board date on or before 31 March 2026 under the ITC HS codes listed in Annexure I of the Ministry of Steel Order. Document the exemption basis on the bill of entry if applicable.
Ministry of Steel Order F.No.S-20011/15/2024-TECH-PART(2) dated 20-11-2025

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the finished can as the BIS-certified article, when the QCO obligation attaches to the input materials — tin plate and tin-free steel — not the fabricated can itself. The can manufacturer must demonstrate that the input materials bear the ISI mark from a CM/L-licensed supplier under Schedule 1 serial numbers 108 and 109, and the test certificate for those inputs must travel with the consignment. Importers who present only the finished-product invoice without the input-material test certificate face consignment detention regardless of the apparent quality of the finished cans.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7310 21 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Under the Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 (S.O. 3716(E)), the tin plate and tin-free steel input materials must conform to the relevant Indian Standards and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence; this obligation has been in effect from 14 November 2021.

Is Steel Import Monitoring System registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and is independent of the BIS QCO obligation; fee ₹500, validity 75 days, apply no earlier than 60 days before expected arrival.

Are there any exemptions from the QCO for this HSN?

The Ministry of Steel Order dated 20-11-2025 exempts ITC HS codes listed in its Annexure I where the bill of lading shipped-on-board date is on or before 31 March 2026; importers must document the exemption basis on the bill of entry. SIMS carve-outs under DGFT Policy Circular 38/15-20 (re-imports for packaging, SEZ-DTA movements without value addition) do not relax the BIS QCO obligation.

Does a single CM/L licence for the input material cover all tin plate and tin-free steel grades supplied to the can manufacturer?

No. The CM/L licence is scope-specific by grade, specification, and licensed manufacturing facility; input material outside the licensed grade or from an unlicensed plant is not covered, and the consignment is treated as non-compliant.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-18. Source: BIS / SIMS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.