Overview
Steel is one of the most heavily regulated imports into India. The Ministry of Steel has issued a series of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) under the BIS Act, 2016, led by the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order and its amendments. For the steel grades and products listed in these orders, import, sale and distribution are allowed only if the product conforms to the specified Indian Standard and the manufacturer holds a BIS licence. For overseas mills, that licence is obtained under the BIS Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).
Alongside the QCOs, the Ministry of Steel has long run approval routes for imports that do not fit the standard pattern. Importers commonly called these “NOCs”:
- Clarifications and NOCs for grades outside the QCOs, so that SIMS registration could be generated for them.
- Exemptions for QCO-covered grades imported from manufacturers without a BIS licence, considered by a committee set up under the Ministry’s order of 14 May 2020, with representatives of BIS, DGFT and domain experts.
- Product- and HS-code-specific exemptions notified through Ministry orders, for example for certain stainless steel flat products.
Note: On 20 November 2025, the Ministry of Steel issued a set of orders that, as widely reported, revoked the earlier NOC process for non-QCO grades and set out a revised process for exemptions for QCO-covered grades. Further exemption and amendment orders followed in 2026. Check the current orders at https://steel.gov.in/quality-control-orders before shipping.
Who needs it
- Importers of steel products that are covered by a QCO but sourced from mills without a BIS licence.
- Actual users and manufacturers importing special grades for their own production, including for strategic sectors and export production.
- Traders and importers who need certainty on whether a grade is covered before ordering.
- Foreign mills supporting their Indian customers’ applications.
Products covered
The QCOs list steel products by Indian Standard. Broad groups include:
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Flat products | Hot and cold rolled sheets and coils, coated and galvanised sheets, tinplate |
| Stainless steel | Flat and long stainless products |
| Long products | Bars, rods, wire rods, structural sections |
| Pipes and tubes | Welded and seamless pipes |
| Specialised | Electrical steel, alloy steels, fasteners and screws under specific orders |
The Ministry of Steel publishes the orders, the HS codes concerned and all exemptions on its website.
Documents required
For an exemption application, expect to provide:
- Importer details, IEC and GST registration
- Proforma invoice or purchase order with grade, specification, dimensions and quantity
- Mill test certificates and technical specification of the grade
- End-use details, with a justification for why a BIS-licensed source is not used
- Details of the foreign manufacturer
- Comparison of the grade with the nearest Indian Standard, where relevant
- Undertakings in the Ministry’s format
Process
- Classify the product. Identify the HS code, grade and Indian Standard, and check whether any QCO or exemption order applies.
- Choose the route. BIS-licensed source, existing notified exemption, or a fresh exemption application.
- Prepare the technical case with specifications, test certificates and end-use justification.
- Apply through the Ministry of Steel’s online process, which is reported to run through the SIMS portal at https://sims.steel.gov.in.
- Committee review. The application is examined, and the committee may seek clarifications.
- Decision. If approved, the exemption is issued with any conditions, such as quantity or end-use limits.
- SIMS and customs. Use the approval when generating the SIMS registration and clearing the consignment.
Validity, renewal & surveillance
Exemptions are typically issued for a specified quantity, period or end-use, as stated in the approval. Customs checks QCO compliance at import, and the Ministry may verify end use. Misuse can lead to action under the BIS Act and customs law.
Note: The Ministry of Steel has changed these procedures several times. We confirm the live process before filing and share an estimate of any fees involved.
How Aaditech helps
Aaditech guides steel importers and their overseas principals through the Steel QCOs. Our team was founded by former Directors of the Bureau of Indian Standards, so we read Indian Standards and grade specifications the way the committee does.
- Coverage checks of each grade and HS code against the QCOs and exemption orders.
- Route advice: licensed source, existing exemption or new application.
- Technical justification prepared for committee review.
- Application filing and query handling with the Ministry of Steel.
- SIMS registration for the same consignments.
- FMCS licensing for overseas mills that want a long-term BIS licence instead of repeated exemptions.
Contact us before you place a steel import order.
