India tightens steel import standards

The Government of India has now made it mandatory for traders to register with the Steel Import Monitoring System for the import of all iron and steel products, as well as some rail-related goods, in an effort to discourage inbound supplies of such goods and to promote local production.

The General Directorate of Foreign Trade stated that the import of all products in accordance with chapter 72 (iron and steel), chapter 73 (iron and steel products) and chapter 86 (railway or tram locomotives, rolling stock and parts thereof; accessories for rail or tram paths) and fittings; mechanical alarms of all types). now requires mandatory registration with SIMS. In a public notice, the directorate announced that the date of implementation of this notice will be October 16.

Compulsory registration was previously introduced for about 300 titles. Now added about 530 more products.

SIMS, run by the Department of Commerce, collects and publishes data on imports of steel products.