**Summary:**
This policy circular, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, on January 7, 2022, clarifies the applicability of the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) to specific import scenarios involving steel products falling under HSN Codes of Chapters 72, 73, and 86 of the ITC (HS), 2017. This circular is in response to representations from trade and industry members following Notification No. 33/2015-2020, dated September 28, 2020, which amended the import policy to require compulsory registration under SIMS.
The circular clarifies the following:
* **Re-import for Packaging:** Re-import of steel goods under Chapters 72, 73, and 86 for packaging purposes is *not* covered under SIMS.
* **DTA-SEZ-DTA Transactions:** SIMS registration is *not* required when a steel item is exported from a Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) to a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and subsequently imported back into the DTA, regardless of whether value addition has occurred in the SEZ.
For any further clarification, Jai Pal, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade, can be contacted at jai.pal84@nic.in. The file number for reference is 01/89/180/MONI-5852/AM03/PC2A/E-1663.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Foreign Trade: A department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, responsible for foreign trade policy.
Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS): A system for compulsory registration of steel imports into India.
Ministry of Steel: A ministry of the Government of India.
ITC HS: Indian Trade Classification based on Harmonized System (HS) of Coding. Schedule I Import Policy of ITC HS is being referred to.
New Delhi, Delhi: The location of Udyog Bhawan, the office of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
Notification No.33/2015-2020: A notification amending the import policy of HSN codes under chapters 72, 73 and 86.
HSN Codes Chapter 72: Relates to Iron and Steel
HSN Codes Chapter 73: Relates to Articles of Iron and Steel
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
UdyogBhawan, H-Wing
Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi-110011
wkhk
Policy Circular No.B 8 12015-2020
Dated | 7 January, 2022
To
All Regional Authorities of DGFT
All Customs Authorities
Subsequent to the issuance of Notification No.33/2015-2020 dated
28.09.2020 amending import policy of all HSN Codes under chapter-72, 73 and 86 of
Schedule -I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) from ‘Free’ to ‘Free subject to compulsory
registration under Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS), DGFT has received
various representations from members of Trade & Industry seeking clarification on
SIMS.
2. The issues were referred to M/O Steel and based upon their clarification,
_.
responses thereto are given below:
A. Whether re-import of goods for packaging purposes falling under HS codes of
Chapters 72,73 and 86 of ITC (HS), 2017 is also covered under scope of
SIMS?
Response: Re-import of steel for packaging purposes will not be covered under SIMS
as it is not primarily meant for value addition, rather being re-imported for
packaging only.
Whether SIMS Registration is required if the steel/steel item is exported from DTA to
SEZ and then imported from SEZ to DTA when [i] the item is being imported to DTA
without any value addition and [ii] the item is being imported to DTA after some value
addition?
Response: In both the cases i.e. [i] if the steel/steel item is exported from DTA to SEZ
and then imported into DTA from SEZ without value addition, or [ii] with value
addition, there should be no requirement for SIMS registration.
This issues with the approval of the competent authority. y
\
\
(Jai Pal)
Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade
jai.pal84@nic.in
File No. 01/89/180/MONI-5852/AM-03/PC-2(A)/E-1663