Copper-zinc base alloys (brass)

Unwrought copper-zinc base alloys (brass)

NIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7403 21 00 (Copper-zinc base alloys, brass) is subject to compulsory advance registration under the Non-Ferrous Metals Import Monitoring System (NFMIMS), administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under DGFT Notification 61/2015-2020 dated 31-03-2021. An automatic registration number must be obtained online, with a ₹500 registration fee, before the arrival of the consignment. A TRQ allocation under the revised India-Nepal Treaty, monitored by DGFT under DGFT Public Notice 17/2023, applies to qualifying copper-product imports under Chapter 74.

What this is

HSN code

7403 21 00

Chapter

74 · Copper and articles thereof

Primary regulator

NIMS · NFMIMS registration under DGFT Notification 61/2015-2020

Customs documentation

NFMIMS registration number from NIMS
TRQ allocation certificate from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

NIMSNIMS·Non-Ferrous Metal Import Monitoring System

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

Compliance steps

1
Apply for NFMIMS advance registration on the DGFT online portal and pay the ₹500 registration fee to obtain an automatic registration number. The application may be submitted no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the registration number is valid for 75 days from issuance.
DGFT Notification 61/2015-2020 dated 31-03-2021 · S.O. 3759(E) · DGFT Notification 26/2016-20 dated 10-08-2022
2
Where the import falls within the India-Nepal TRQ for copper products under Chapter 74 (including CTH 8544), obtain a TRQ allocation from DGFT as the designated authority and comply with the allocation and monitoring procedure under Para 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.
DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023 · Para 2.92, Handbook of Procedures, 2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the abolition of the minimum 5-day advance-registration window as eliminating the registration requirement entirely. NFMIMS registration remains mandatory — only the minimum lead time has been reduced to zero; an unregistered consignment still attracts detention at port pending compliance. Importers sourcing under the India-Nepal TRQ must separately secure a DGFT allocation before shipment, as TRQ exhaustion cannot be rectified after the bill of entry is filed.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7403 21 00 require BIS certification?

No, unwrought copper-zinc alloys are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Non-Ferrous Metals Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 61/2015-2020, which requires compulsory advance registration and an automatic registration number before consignment arrival.

Can the NFMIMS registration be applied for after the consignment has departed the exporting country?

Yes, since the minimum advance lead time has been reduced to zero under S.O. 3759(E) and DGFT Notification 26/2016-20 dated 10-08-2022, but registration must be obtained before the consignment arrives at the Indian port, and the automatic number remains valid for only 75 days.

What is the TRQ allocation relevant to this tariff line under the India-Nepal Treaty?

DGFT is the designated authority for allocating and monitoring 10,000 MT of copper products under Chapter 74 and CTH 8544 for FY 2023-24 under the revised India-Nepal Treaty, per DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023 and Para 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.

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