Spring washers and other lock washers

Spring washers and other lock washers of iron or steel

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 1363 (part 1) · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7318 21 00 (spring washers and other lock washers) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Bolts, Nuts and Fasteners (Quality Control) Order, 2024. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standards is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 07 July 2022, pursuant to S.O. 2771(E). Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

7318 21 00

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 1363 (Part 1) · effective 07-07-2022

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 on the BIS online register against the applicable Indian Standard before placing the purchase order. Confirm the licensed product scope covers the specific washer type, size range, and manufacturing facility.
Bolts, Nuts and Fasteners (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 2771(E) dated 12-07-2024 · ISI Mark Scheme under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Ensure every spring washer or lock washer bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number traceable to the licensed facility. Marking must appear on the product or, where product size precludes direct marking, on the smallest commercial packaging unit.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Bolts, Nuts and Fasteners (Quality Control) Order, 2024
3
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 from issue; 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
4
Quote both the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the SIMS automatic 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 absent, expired, or scope-mismatched triggers consignment detention.
ITC HS policy condition 2 of Chapter 73 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
5
If the consignment is a re-import of steel goods for packaging purposes only, or an SEZ-to-DTA movement without value addition, document the SIMS exemption basis. The BIS QCO obligation is not waived by either SIMS carve-out — the ISI-marked product requirement continues to apply.
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 QCO scope for HSN 7318 21 00 aligns one-to-one with washers, when the Bolts, Nuts and Fasteners (Quality Control) Order, 2024 maps across the broader HSN 7318 family and the applicable IS standards are bolt-, screw-, and nut-centric. Importers sourcing spring washers frequently present a supplier CM/L licensed for bolts or structural nuts, not for the washer product itself, and customs detains the consignment on a product-scope mismatch. The licensed product scope on the CM/L must expressly cover spring washers or lock washers, not merely the fastener family heading.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7318 21 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Spring washers and other lock washers of iron or steel are subject to the ISI Mark Scheme under the Bolts, Nuts and Fasteners (Quality Control) Order, 2024 notified via S.O. 2771(E); import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the relevant product scope.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. SIMS registration is a separate customs-clearance overlay administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days; apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

Do the SIMS carve-outs for re-imports and SEZ movements also exempt the BIS QCO obligation?

No. The SIMS exemptions under DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 apply only to the SIMS registration requirement; the ISI Mark Scheme obligation under the Bolts, Nuts and Fasteners (Quality Control) Order, 2024 continues to apply regardless.

Does a single CM/L licence covering fasteners generally extend to spring washers and lock washers?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by product type and manufacturing facility; a licence issued for bolts, screws, or structural nuts does not automatically cover spring washers or lock washers, and a product-scope mismatch triggers detention at port.

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