26 10 月, 2026
Importing Steel into India: BIS Licence, QCO and SIMS
Importing steel into India passes through two separate gates, and a consignment can clear one and fail the other. The first is quality: a grade listed in the steel Quality Control Order may only be imported from a manufacturer holding an operative BIS licence for it, and the goods must carry the Standard Mark. The second is monitoring: the importer must register the shipment in advance on the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) before clearance. Neither gate is about price, which is why a hard-won quotation can still lose weeks at port.
Gate one: the quality route
The Quality Control Order is issued by the Ministry of Steel under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act; the consolidated order in force is the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control Order), 2024. A product listed in its schedule must conform to the Indian Standard named for it and must bear the Standard Mark under a BIS licence. It applies to imports as to domestic production, so a grade inside the order cannot come from a mill outside the licence system.
Two consequences matter when you buy from abroad. The licence attaches to the manufacturing unit and a specific standard, not to the trading company that invoices you — “BIS approved” means nothing until you know which licence number covers which IS grade, and whether it is operative. The grade also has to be written in Indian Standard terms on the commercial documents; a description such as “MS angle” cannot be matched to a licence.
For grades no order covers, the no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Steel was withdrawn and those grades are mapped on the SIMS portal, so the importer generates a number directly. Where a grade is inside the order but the mill holds no licence, an exemption route is examined case by case.
Gate two: the monitoring route
SIMS was notified by DGFT and has applied to steel tariff lines since 1 November 2019. It is advance information, not a permit: the importer files the consignment against the eight-digit HS line, pays a fee and receives an automatic registration number, which the broker quotes at clearance. Coverage runs across Chapters 72, 73 and 86, so most flat and long products and many steel articles are inside it.
SIMS is filed by the importer in India, usually through the broker, and must agree with the invoice and packing list. A registration raised against a different HS line from the one the goods are classified under counts for little.
| Gate | Who acts | What is checked | If it fails |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Order | The manufacturer holds it; the importer presents it | That the IS grade is covered by an operative BIS licence, and the Standard Mark is on the goods | Non-compliant: clearance refused, material liable to be disposed of as scrap |
| SIMS | The importer, usually through a customs broker | HS line, consignment information, validity of the registration number | No registration number means no clearance until the entry is corrected and refiled |
Where shipments actually stall
- A licence is produced, but it covers a different IS grade from the one on the invoice.
- A mill test certificate is offered instead of a BIS licence. It is a quality document, not a licence.
- The SIMS entry quotes one HS line and the goods are classified under another.
What to confirm before you commit
- The exact IS grade as the Indian Standard writes it, not the trade shorthand.
- The mill’s licence reference and validity for that grade, checked against the marking on the goods.
- Whether the grade is inside an order at all — licence route, or SIMS only.
- Who files SIMS and against which HS line, agreed in writing before production.
- The documents with the shipment: mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 or equivalent, invoice and packing list showing grade and HS code.
Related reading
- How import duties work on steel from China
- Steel export licensing and trade measures
- Customs clearance for steel imports
- HS codes for steel products
- Quality and certification
Frequently asked questions
Is a BIS licence required to import steel into India?
For grades notified under a Quality Control Order, yes: the goods must be made by a manufacturer holding an operative BIS licence for that grade and bear the Standard Mark.
What is SIMS in steel imports?
The Steel Import Monitoring System, notified by DGFT and in force since 1 November 2019. The importer files advance information against the eight-digit HS line and receives a registration number.
Does a trading company's BIS certificate cover my order?
The licence attaches to the manufacturing unit and a named Indian Standard. Check the number against the specific grade and confirm it is operative, rather than accepting a general claim.
What if the grade is not covered by any Quality Control Order?
The no-objection certificate route from the Ministry of Steel was withdrawn; those grades are mapped on the SIMS portal, so the importer generates a number directly.
Does SIMS replace a BIS licence?
No. SIMS is advance trade information; a BIS licence is a product conformity requirement. A consignment satisfies both where both apply.
Send the standard, grade, section and destination port and we will answer against that specification. See the steel product catalogue, the quality and inspection process, or request a quotation.