Railway and tramway track fixtures and fittings

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 8608 00 10 (Railway and tramway track fixtures and fittings) requires compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 86 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20. Importers must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number before the consignment arrives, with registration valid for 75 days from grant.

What this is

HSN code

8608 00 10

Chapter

86 · Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings

Primary regulator

SIMS · DGFT Policy Condition No. 2, Chapter 86; DGFT Notification 33/2015-20

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy declaration 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 through the DGFT online portal not earlier than the 60th day before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500 and retain the automatic registration number, which is valid for 75 days from the date of grant.
DGFT Notification 28/2023-20 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 86
2
Confirm at the bill of entry stage that the SIMS automatic registration number is current and quote it in the import declaration. Note that the earlier requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration has been abolished; no minimum lead time applies beyond the 60-day window for early application.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing the bill of entry after the 75-day SIMS registration validity has lapsed — a fresh registration application is then required, causing consignment detention and accruing demurrage and ground rent while the importer re-applies. Applications may be submitted up to 60 days before vessel arrival, so the registration window should be tracked against the bill of lading date, not the purchase-order date. SEZ-to-DTA transfers and re-imports solely for packaging purposes fall outside SIMS scope per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8608 00 10 require BIS certification?

No, railway and tramway track fixtures and fittings are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 86 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20.

How long is the SIMS registration valid and when can it be applied for?

The automatic SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days from grant; application may be submitted no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival date of the import consignment, per DGFT Notification 28/2023-20 dated 28-08-2023.

Are SEZ-to-DTA transfers of steel track fittings covered by the SIMS requirement?

No. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, transfers of steel items from SEZ to DTA — whether with or without value addition — do not require SIMS registration; re-imports solely for packaging purposes are also excluded.

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