Commerce ministry launches steel import monitoring system

The system has been developed in consultation with the ministry of steel on the pattern of US Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system.

The SIMS will provide advance information about steel imports to government and stake holders, including, steel industry (producers), steel consumers (importers) to have effective policy interventions.

In this system, importers of specified steel products will register in advance on the web portal of SIMS providing necessary information. The registration will be online and automatic and no human intervention is required. The importer can apply for registration not earlier than 60 days and not later than 15 days before the expected date of arrival of import consignment. The automatic registration number thus granted will remain valid for a period of 75 days. Information about the steel imports provided by the importers on the SIMS will be monitored by the steel ministry.

An official notification says the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) will be effective from 1 November 2019. The system requires importers to submit advance information in an online system for import of 284 steel tariff lines at 8-digit HS code in order to obtain an automatic registration number by paying prescribed registration fee. Importer will have to enter the registration number and expiry date of registration in the Bill of Entry to enable Customs for clearance of consignment. The SIMS will be effective from 1 November 2019, ie, bill of entry on or after 1 November 2019. The facility of online registration has been made available from 16 September 2019.