Steel Import Monitoring System Launched

· SIMS to Give Advance Information About Steel Imports to Government and Stake Holders

[MoC&I Press Release dated 16 September 2019]

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Hardeep Singh Puri launched Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) in New Delhi on 16 September 2019.

The system has been developed in consultation with 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, the 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^th day and not later than 15^th day before the expected date of arrival of import consignment. The automatic Registration Number thus granted shall remain valid for a period of 75 days. The information about the steel imports provided by the importers on the SIMS will be monitored by the Steel Ministry.

Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) has been notified with effect from 1^st November, 2019 vide Notification No.17 dated 5^th September, 2019.The system shall require 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 shall 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 01.11.2019, i.e., Bill of Entry on or after 01.11.2019. The facility of on line Registration will be available with effect from 16/09/2019.

STEEL IMPORT MONITORING SYSTEM (SIMS)

• Import Policy of specific iron & steel items appearing in Chapter 72, 73 and 86 of ITC (HS), 2017, Schedule – I as given in Annex to DGFT Notification no 17 dated 5th September 2019 has been changed from ‘free’ to ‘free subject to compulsory registration’ under Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS)

• Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) shall require importers to submit advance information in an online system for import of items in the Annex. On submission of online data/information, the system will generate an automatic unique Registration Number. No manual documents are to be submitted to any public authority for this purpose.

• Importer can apply for online registration not earlier than 60th day and not later than 15th day before the expected date of arrival of import consignment

• The automatic Registration Number thus granted shall remain valid for a period of 75 days

• A registration fee of Rs 1 per thousand subject to a minimum of Rs.500/- and a maximum of Rs 1 Lakh on aggregate CIF value of imports will need to be paid through electronic mode in the online system for each registration number

• Facility of on line Registration will be available with effect from 16 September 2019

• Importer shall have to enter the Registration Number and expiry date of Registration in the Bill of Entry to enable Customs for clearance of consignment

• SIMS will be effective from 01.11.2019, i.e., Bill of Entry on or after 01.11.2019 for items as listed in the Annex to this Notification shall be governed by SIMS

• Other related information

- On registration, a Unique Registration Number (URN) starting with ‘STL’ will be sent to the IEC holders mobile/email id (as given in IEC database)

- SIMS also has the facility to view earlier online registrations. In addition, incomplete applications which have not been submitted for registration on the DGFT portal are also available in the SIMS for review and further action

- Any change in applicant’s mobile/email id will need to be first amended/updated in DGFT IEC database through the online IEC modification system

- Importers who fail to register their information/data on notified steel items in advance or are found to furnish incorrect data in the Online SIMS module will attract punitive action including action under FTDR Act, 1992

- Online Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) is available on a 24X7 basis. However, in the interest of trade/importers, it is suggested that registrations are filed/obtained fairly well in advance to avoid disruptions in the business activity of the firm.

- Any issues on account of difficulties faced in filing online registrations need to be ticketed at the link contact@dgft for resolution. Helpdesk at 1800111550 may also be approached for support.