Ministry of Steel Grants QCO Compliance Exemption for Stainless Steel Flat (Semi-Finished and Final) Products
The exemption applies to stainless steel flat products plates, sheets, strips, and intermediate flat products covered under the following four Indian Standards:
What the order covers
The exemption applies to stainless steel flat products plates, sheets, strips, and intermediate flat products covered under the following four Indian Standards:
IS 6911:2017 — Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet and Strip
IS 5522:2014 — Stainless Steel Sheets and Strips for Utensils
IS 15997:2012 — Low Nickel Austenitic Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet and Strip for Utensils and Kitchen Appliances
IS 14650:2023 — Intermediate product of stainless steel flat products only
The exemption covers 140 stainless steel grades listed in the Annexure to the order, mapped across the four standards above. The grades span ferritic, martensitic, austenitic, duplex, and high-performance categories from common grades such as 304, 316, and 430 to specialised alloys used in industrial and high-temperature applications.
The condition: bill of lading date
The exemption is tied to a single documentary condition: the Bill of Lading must show a shipped-on-board date of on or before 26 October 2026. Imports with a Bill of Lading dated after that date are not covered by this exemption and must comply with the applicable QCO requirements.
The order does not specify any additional documentary filing requirements, registration obligations, or reporting conditions beyond the Bill of Lading date. However, given that this is an administrative order rather than a gazette notification, importers should verify at the port whether customs authorities are honouring it and on what basis.
Why this was issued
The order states it was issued following representations from MSMEs and after examination of all aspects of the issue. The stainless steel flat products QCO, which brought these grades under mandatory BIS certification has created compliance pressure on downstream users, particularly smaller manufacturers of utensils, kitchenware, and industrial components who rely on imported stainless steel flat stock.
The exemption is a supply continuity measure, allowing MSME importers to bring in material against existing orders and commitments without BIS certification being a bar, provided the shipment boards before the October deadline.
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This news update is for guidance only. Verify with a qualified compliance advisor before acting.