Other traffic control equipment for railways

Railway traffic control equipment containing steel components

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 8608 00 30 (Other traffic control equipment for railways) is subject to compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) as a customs overlay, pursuant to Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 86 and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. Importers must obtain a SIMS automatic registration number before the consignment arrives and file the bill of entry within the 75-day validity window of that registration.

What this is

HSN code

8608 00 30

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

SIMS · Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 86, ITC (HS); DGFT Notification 33/2015-20

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy compliance 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
Register the import on the SIMS online portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500 to obtain an automatic SIMS registration number; quote this number at the bill-of-entry stage. The prior requirement of minimum 15 days advance registration has been abolished.
DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022 · Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 86
2
Ensure the SIMS registration number remains valid at the time of filing the bill of entry: automatic registration numbers are valid for 75 days from grant. A consignment presented after expiry of the 75-day window requires fresh SIMS registration before out-of-charge can be granted.
DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is registering on SIMS after the consignment has already sailed, in the belief that registration can be completed at any time before out-of-charge. The 75-day validity clock runs from the date of grant of the registration number, not from arrival; a vessel delayed in transit can exhaust the validity window before the bill of entry is filed, requiring a second ₹500 registration. Note also that SEZ-to-DTA transfers of this equipment — with or without value addition — do not attract SIMS registration requirements.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8608 00 30 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers railway traffic control equipment under this tariff line. The operative obligation is compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Policy Condition No. 2 of Chapter 86.

How early can an importer apply for SIMS registration, and how long does the registration remain valid?

An importer may apply for SIMS registration no earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival; the automatic registration number granted remains valid for 75 days per DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023.

Does re-import of steel-containing railway equipment from an SEZ into the DTA require SIMS registration?

No. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, transfers from SEZ to DTA — whether with or without value addition — are exempt from the SIMS registration requirement.

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