Ministry of Steel Grants Conditional Exemption till 30 June 2026

“Indirect Tax I Indirect Tax Litigation I Customs & FTP I Central Licensing I Arbitration I Advisory”

Dated: 10.04.2026

Ministry of Steel Grants Conditional Exemption till 30 June 2026

In a significant development impacting steel importers and trade stakeholders, the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, has issued an Order dated 08 April 2026, granting conditional exemption from mandatory Quality Control Order (QCO) compliance for specified steel products and ITC(HS) codes.

This regulatory relaxation comes as a continuation of the earlier order dated 20.11.2025 and reflects the Government’s pragmatic approach towards balancing compliance requirements with trade facilitation.

Legal Background: What is QCO Compliance?

Quality Control Orders (QCOs), issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, mandate that certain notified products must conform to prescribed Indian Standards (IS) and carry BIS certification.

Non-compliance typically results in:

Import restrictions
Seizure or detention of goods
Denial of customs clearance

Thus, QCO compliance has become a critical pre-import requirement for steel and allied products.

Key Highlights of the 08.04.2026 Order

According to the official order issued by the Ministry of Steel :

1. Conditional Exemption Granted

Specified ITC(HS) codes listed in Annexure I are exempted from mandatory QCO compliance.

2. Time-Bound Relief

The exemption applies only to imports where the Bill of Lading shows a shipment date on or before 30 June 2026.

3. Continuation of Earlier Policy

This order is a continuation of the earlier relaxation dated 20.11.2025, indicating an ongoing policy window for industry adjustment.

Products Covered Under Exemption

The annexure lists multiple steel products along with their corresponding IS Standards and ITC(HS) Codes. Key categories include:

S. No.	IS Standard	Description	ITC(HS) Codes
1	IS 10325:2000	Square Tins – 15 kg/litre for Ghee, Vanaspati, Edible Oils & Bakery Shortenings	73102110, 73102910
2	IS 1161:2014	Steel Tubes for Structural Purposes	73043119, 73043129, 73043139, 73043919, 73043929, 73043939, 73045910, 73045920, 73045930, 73049000, 73053190, 73053990, 73059099, 73063090, 73069000
3	IS 1239 (Part 1): 2004	Steel Tubes, Tubulars and Other Wrought Steel Fittings – Part 1 Steel Tubes	73043119, 73043129, 73043919, 73043929, 73049000, 73063090, 73069019, 73069090
4	IS 13997:2014	Drums, Large Open Top	73101090
5	IS 14756:2024	Stainless Steel Utensils – Specification	73239310, 73239390
6	IS 15155:2020	Bar or Wire Wrapped Steel Cylinder Products Pipes with Mortar Lining & Coating	73053190, 73053990, 73059099, 73063090, 73069000, 73079190, 73079290, 73079390, 73079990
7	IS 1783 (Part 1): 2014	Drums, Large, Fixed Ends, Grade ‘A’	73101090
8	IS 1783 (Part 2): 2014	Drums, Large, Fixed Ends, Grade ‘B’	73101090
9	IS 17875:2022	Stainless Steel Seamless Pipes and Tubes for General Services	73044100, 73044900
10	IS 17876:2022	Stainless Steel Welded Pipes and Tubes for General Services	73053190, 73053990, 73064000
11	IS 2141:2005	Hot Dip Galvanized Stay Strand	73121030, 73129000
12	IS 2552:1989	Steel Drums (Galvanized and Ungalvanized)	73101090, 73102190, 73102990
13	IS 3575:1993	Bitumen Drums	73101090
14	IS 4270:2001	Steel Tubes Used for Water Wells	73043119, 73043129, 73043139, 73044100, 73044900, 73045110, 73045120, 73045130, 73045910, 73045920, 73045930, 73049000, 73053190, 73053990, 73059099, 73063090, 73064000, 73065000, 73069090
15	IS 6913:1973	Stainless Steel Tubes for Food and Beverage Industry	73044100, 73044900, 73064000
16	IS 916:2000	Square Tins for Solid Products	73102110, 73102910

Practical Impact for Importers

1. Immediate Clearance Advantage

Importers can proceed with clearance without BIS certification, provided:

The product falls under listed ITC(HS) codes
Shipment date condition is satisfied

2. Relief from Detention & Compliance Burden

This order helps avoid:

Port demurrage
Warehousing delays
Cost escalation due to compliance bottlenecks

3. Critical for Ongoing Shipments

Importers with shipments already in transit or planned before 30.06.2026 stand to benefit the most.

Important Compliance Conditions

While the exemption provides relief, it is not absolute. Importers must ensure:

Proper documentation of Bill of Lading date
Correct classification under notified ITC(HS) codes
Alignment of product description with Annexure entries

Any mismatch may lead to:

Denial of exemption
Reassessment or detention by Customs

Strategic Advisory for Importers

Verify HSN Classification before import
Maintain shipment timeline records
Keep technical product specifications ready
Seek legal advisory in case of ambiguity

Conclusion

The Ministry of Steel’s order dated 08.04.2026 is a timely and industry-friendly intervention, particularly for importers dealing with regulated steel products. It not only eases immediate compliance burdens but also signals the Government’s willingness to adopt a pragmatic stance in implementation.

However, this relaxation must be viewed as a temporary window rather than a permanent exemption. Importers should proactively align with BIS requirements to avoid future disruptions once the exemption period lapses.

In case you face any issues related to Indirect Tax-Customs, GST, Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), Arbitration matters and Central Licensing and related advisory matters in India then please feel free to get in touch with SJ EXIM Services.

We offer Legal advice and litigation support in matters related to Indirect Tax-Customs, FTP, other Indirect Tax matters & Arbitration law, all sorts of Central licensing and related matters. Come and explore the new way of doing business with us!

Source: Ministry of Steel

Disclaimer

Handy Download:

Steel QCO Exemption Extension OrderDownload

Connect with us for more-

@ Team S J EXIM SERVICES, New Delhi, IN

CP: Ms. Shubhra Jha, Founder

Tel: +91-11-4999 2707 I +91-9999005693

Web: www.sjexim.services

EMAIL: operations@sjexim.services I shubhra@sjexim.services

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sjeximservices

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/90794255/admin/feed/posts/