Instruction No. 23/2025-Customs, Dated 15-06-2025
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued an instruction concerning the import of input materials of steel and steel products, emphasising compliance with the Quality Control Orders (QCOs) that mandate adherence to specified Indian Standards. The instruction also reinforces the requirement of mandatory registration on the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) portal.
1. Exemption for Shipments with Earlier Bill of Lading
As per the Order dated 11th July 2025, an exemption has been provided from the mandatory Indian Standards requirement for:
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Imports where the Bill of Lading bears a shipped-on-board date on or before 15th July 2025
This exemption acknowledges transitional consignments and provides relief for shipments already in transit before the effective date of the QCO.
2. Special Exemption for Integrated Steel Plants (ISPs)
The Order also exempts final steel products supplied by Integrated Steel Plants (ISPs) from the mandatory Indian Standards requirement, provided the following conditions are met:
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Verification of the valid Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) licences held by the ISP
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Submission of documentation to the Ministry of Steel at tech-steel@nic.in, including:
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- A declaration confirming their status as an ISP
- A list of operative BIS licences
- Relevant supporting documents
It has been cautioned that any misdeclaration by an ISP may result in debarment from the SIMS portal.
3. Ministry of Steel to Enable Provisions on SIMS Portal
To facilitate this process, the Ministry of Steel will make necessary provisions in the SIMS portal to recognise and accommodate the exemptions available to eligible ISPs.
4. Modified Instruction and Enforcement
This directive modifies Instruction No. 16/2025-Customs dated 18-06-2025 and requires Customs officers and relevant authorities to:
- Take appropriate action to implement the updated provisions
- Ensure widespread awareness and compliance within their jurisdiction
5. Conclusion
This instruction offers procedural clarity and transitional relief for importers and ISPs, while ensuring continued enforcement of quality standards in steel imports. Importers and stakeholders are advised to stay informed of updates to the SIMS portal and comply with documentation and reporting obligations.
