The CBIC issued Instruction No. 23/2025-Customs on July 15, 2025, mandating adherence to Indian Standards for imported steel products listed under QCO and registered on the SIMS portal. However, exemptions apply to imports shipped on or before July 15, 2025, and to products from Integrated Steel Plants (ISPs) upon BIS licence verification. ISPs must declare their status to the Ministry of Steel via email. Instruction No. 16/2025-Customs is modified accordingly to reflect these changes.
Reference is invited to the Order dated 11.07.2025 issued by the Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Steel vide F.no. S-20011/15/2024-TECH (copy attached) and Instruction No. 16/2025-Customs dated 18.06.2025 on the above subject.
Vide the above Order dated 11.07.2025, the following exemptions have been granted in respect of Order of even number dated 13.06.2025:
i. The mandatory adherence requirement of input steel for imports of steel products with Bill of lading having shipped on board date on or before 15.07.2025 shall be exempted.
ii. The mandatory adherence requirement of input steel for the final products supplied by Integrated Steel Plants (ISPs) shall be exempted after verification of such licences by BIS. In the meantime, such ISPs can send a communication to Ministry of Steel on email tech-steel@nic.in, with the declaration that they are Integrated Steel Plant along with the list of operative BIS licences and relevant documents. Any misdeclaration may lead to debarment in SIMS. Ministry of Steel will make appropriate provisions in the SIMS portal for such ISPs.
In view of the above, it is requested that necessary action may be taken to sensitize officers under your jurisdiction regarding the said matter. Instruction No. 16/2025-Customs dated 18.06.2025 stands modified to that extent.
The Instructions can be accessed at: https://taxinformation.cbic.gov.in/view-pdf/1000556/ENG/Instructions
