Ship chain

Ship chain of iron or steel

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 2403 · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7315 12 20 (ship chain) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 2403:2014 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 October 2024 for general enterprises (01 January 2025 for small enterprises; 01 April 2025 for micro enterprises), under the Precision Roller and Bush Chains, Attachments and Associated Chains Sprockets (Quality Control) Order, 2024. 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

7315 12 20

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 2403:2014 · effective 03-06-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence number against IS 2403:2014 on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Confirm the licensed product scope covers ship chain and the specific manufacturing facility supplying the consignment.
Precision Roller and Bush Chains, Attachments and Associated Chains Sprockets (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 2174(E) dated 03-06-2024
2
Confirm the applicable enforcement date for the supplier's enterprise category: 01 October 2024 for general enterprises, 01 January 2025 for small enterprises, and 01 April 2025 for micro enterprises as defined under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006.
S.O. 2174(E) dated 03-06-2024 · Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (27 of 2006)
3
Ensure each ship chain bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number under Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product or attached tag traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility, not on outer packaging alone.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Precision Roller and Bush Chains, Attachments and Associated Chains Sprockets (Quality Control) Order, 2024
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days; the registration must remain within validity on the date of arrival.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 73
5
Quote both the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register and the SIMS registration against the DGFT portal; either being absent, expired, or scope-mismatched triggers consignment detention.
BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962 · DGFT policy circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming that the IS 2403:2014 CM/L covers all chain types from a manufacturer. IS 2403:2014 is scoped to precision roller and bush chains, attachments, and associated sprockets — the licence is issued per product type and manufacturing facility. Importers who source ship chain from a supplier whose CM/L covers only transmission roller chains, or whose licensed facility differs from the shipping plant, face detention and potential re-export regardless of SIMS registration status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7315 12 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Ship chain under this tariff line must conform to IS 2403:2014 and bear the ISI mark under a CM/L licence, pursuant to the Precision Roller and Bush Chains, Attachments and Associated Chains Sprockets (Quality Control) Order, 2024 notified vide S.O. 2174(E) dated 03-06-2024.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. Steel Import Monitoring System 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 arrival.

Do the phased enforcement dates affect when a foreign supplier must hold a CM/L?

Yes. The enforcement date is 01 October 2024 for general enterprises, 01 January 2025 for small enterprises, and 01 April 2025 for micro enterprises as defined under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006; the supplier's enterprise category determines the applicable date.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all chain types and manufacturing facilities from the same supplier?

No. A CM/L is product-scope-specific and facility-specific; ship chain outside the licensed product scope or produced at an unlicensed plant is not covered, and customs detains the consignment on a scope or facility mismatch.

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