Articles of clad metal

Articles of iron or steel, clad metal forms

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7326 90 70 (Articles of clad metal) requires compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73, read with DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. The importer must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number by paying a fee of ₹500, with the number remaining valid for 75 days from grant.

What this is

HSN code

7326 90 70

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2, Chapter 73; DGFT Notification 33/2015-20

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy declaration to CBIC
Registration fee receipt from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

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

Compliance steps

1
Apply for SIMS registration on the DGFT online portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500 to obtain the automatic registration number, which is valid for 75 days. The former requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration window has been abolished.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022
2
Cite the SIMS automatic registration number on the bill of entry in compliance with ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73. Confirm that the registration number has not expired — consignments arriving after the 75-day validity window require a fresh registration before out-of-charge can be granted.
ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that carve-outs for re-imports or SEZ-to-DTA transfers eliminate the SIMS obligation in all cases. SIMS registration is not required for re-import of steel articles solely for packaging purposes, nor for DTA-SEZ-DTA transfers whether with or without value addition — but these exemptions are narrow and condition-specific. Any consignment outside those two defined carve-outs, including ordinary commercial imports of clad-metal articles, must carry a current SIMS number; arriving without one invites detention and demurrage pending fresh registration.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7326 90 70 require BIS certification?

No, articles of clad metal under this tariff line are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. The operative framework is the Steel Import Monitoring System registration requirement administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73.

How far in advance must the SIMS registration be obtained, and how long does it remain valid?

Registration may be applied for up to 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number is valid for 75 days from grant. The former 15-day minimum advance-registration requirement was abolished by DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022.

Are re-imports of steel articles for packaging purposes required to register under SIMS?

No. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, re-imports of steel articles solely for packaging — not for value addition — fall outside SIMS scope; similarly, DTA-SEZ-DTA transfers, with or without value addition, do not require SIMS registration.

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