Of stainless steel

Stainless steel cast articles (steel tape measures)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7325 99 30 (stainless steel cast articles) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order under the Legal Metrology — Material Measures of Length (Quality Control) Order, 2023. Conformity to IS 1269 (Part 2):1997 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 23 May 2024 for general importers, with phased effective dates for small and micro enterprises. 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

7325 99 30

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 1269 (Part 2):1997 · effective 23-05-2024

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
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 1269 (Part 2):1997 for steel tape measures. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Legal Metrology — Material Measures of Length (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 5029(E) dated 23-11-2023 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Ensure every tape measure bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself, not on packaging alone.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Legal Metrology — Material Measures of Length (Quality Control) Order, 2023
3
Confirm the applicable effective date for your enterprise category: 23 May 2024 for general importers, 23 August 2024 for small enterprises, and 23 November 2024 for micro enterprises as defined under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006. Document the enterprise classification in the import file.
S.O. 5029(E) dated 23-11-2023 · Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (27 of 2006)
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 from issue. Quote the SIMS registration number on the bill of entry.
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
If the consignment is a re-import for packaging only, or an SEZ-to-DTA movement without value addition, document the SIMS exemption basis. The BIS QCO obligation under IS 1269 (Part 2):1997 is not waived by either SIMS carve-out.
DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing stainless steel cast articles that are generically classifiable under HSN 7325 99 30 without recognising that the QCO scope is specifically confined to steel tape measures under IS 1269 (Part 2):1997. Importers of other stainless steel castings — drain covers, manhole frames, architectural fittings — may incorrectly assume they face the same BIS obligation; equally, tape-measure importers may miss the QCO entirely because the eight-digit tariff descriptor does not name the product. Confirm product identity against the IS 1269 (Part 2):1997 scope before either sourcing or filing.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7325 99 30 require BIS certification?

Yes, for steel tape measures falling within IS 1269 (Part 2):1997. Conformity is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 23 May 2024 by virtue of the Legal Metrology — Material Measures of Length (Quality Control) Order, 2023, notified as S.O. 5029(E).

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 expected arrival.

Do the phased effective dates affect when the CM/L licence obligation applies?

Yes. The general effective date is 23 May 2024; small enterprises as defined under the MSMED Act, 2006 had until 23 August 2024; micro enterprises had until 23 November 2024. From each respective date, unmarked imports are non-compliant regardless of enterprise category.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all tape-measure variants from the same manufacturer?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by product specification, measurement range, and manufacturing facility; tape-measure variants outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant are not covered.

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