Other

Steel tape measures and other fabricated iron or steel articles

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 1269 · SIMS OVERLAY

HSN 7326 19 90 (other articles of iron or steel) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 1269 (Part 2):1997 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 23 May 2024 for steel tape measures, under the Legal Metrology — Material Measures of Length Quality Control Order, 2023. 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

7326 19 90

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: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Source steel tape measures only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 1269 (Part 2):1997. 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
2
Ensure every steel tape measure in the consignment bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number per Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product, not on packaging alone.
Steel and Steel Products Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Obtain a test certificate bearing the standard mark issued by the BIS-certified manufacturer and accompany every consignment with it. Sub-standard product must be disposed of as scrap in a manner that does not violate clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016.
S.O. 3716(E) dated 29-08-2024 · Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016
4
Register the consignment on the Steel Import Monitoring System portal no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days; confirm the SIMS registration remains within validity on the date of arrival.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023
5
If the consignment is imported without a BIS CM/L licence, apply on the TCQCO portal for clarification before import as mandated by the Ministry of Steel. Ensure compliance with CBIC Instructions 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 and 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025 on Indian Standard verification for steel imports.
Ministry of Steel circular F.No.S-20011/14/2021-Tech dated 20-10-2023 · CBIC F.No.401/88/2023-Cus.III dated 09-11-2023 · CBIC Instruction 16/2025-CUS dated 18-06-2025 as modified by CBIC Instruction 23/2025-CUS dated 15-07-2025

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this residuary tariff line is applying the broader Steel and Steel Products QCO (S.O. 3716(E)) to steel tape measures without recognising that a distinct, product-specific QCO — the Legal Metrology — Material Measures of Length Quality Control Order, 2023 under S.O. 5029(E) — governs them separately. The enforcement dates differ: 23 May 2024 for non-micro enterprises, 23 August 2024 for small enterprises, and 23 November 2024 for micro enterprises as defined under the MSMED Act, 2006. An importer who certifies against the wrong QCO or who applies the general steel-product effective date risks detention on the grounds that the CM/L licence cited does not cover the specific legal-metrology standard.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7326 19 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Steel tape measures classified under this tariff line require ISI Mark Scheme CM/L licensing against IS 1269 (Part 2):1997 under the Legal Metrology — Material Measures of Length Quality Control Order, 2023 with effect from 23 May 2024. The broader Steel and Steel Products QCO, 2024 also applies to steel and steel products under this residuary heading.

Is SIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. Steel Import Monitoring System registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 and is independent of BIS QCO compliance. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days; apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date.

Are micro and small enterprises subject to the same enforcement date as larger importers?

No. For steel tape measures under S.O. 5029(E), the effective date for micro enterprises (as defined in the MSMED Act, 2006) is 23 November 2024 and for small enterprises is 23 August 2024, both later than the general effective date of 23 May 2024.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all tape measure specifications and manufacturing facilities?

No. The CM/L licence is scope-specific by standard, product specification, and manufacturing facility; tape measures outside the licensed specification or from an unlicensed plant are not covered and customs detains the consignment on a scope mismatch.

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