The DGFT vide Policy Circular No. 38/2015-2020 dated January 19, 2022 issued clarification regarding Steel Import Monitoring System (“SIMS”).
Subsequent to the issuance of Notification No.33/2015-2020 dated September 28, 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.
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.
B. 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.
The Policy Circular can be accessed at: https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/dgftprod/24c341b5-32bc-44d5-8b88-0300d2f0ad23/pc%2038%20dt%2019-01-22_.pdf