India extends BIS exemption for select stainless steel products till Mar’27

• Relief covers select stainless steel sheets and strips
• Hot-rolled coils, billets to face BIS norms from Oct’26

SteelDaily: The Indian government has extended the exemption from mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for select stainless steel products until 31 March 2027, providing continued relief to manufacturers while retaining the compliance deadline for stainless steel hot-rolled products and billets.

Earlier, the exemption for these stainless steel products was valid only until 26 October 2026 under the Quality Control Order (QCO). With the latest amendment issued by the Ministry of Steel, the deadline for three specified stainless steel standards has now been extended by nearly five months to 31 Mar 2027.

The extension covers IS 5522 (stainless steel sheets and strips for utensils and kitchenware), IS 6911 (stainless steel sheets, strips and circles), and IS 15997 (low-nickel austenitic stainless steel sheets and strips). The government has clarified that the move postpones the enforcement of mandatory BIS certification rather than abolishing the standards, with the objective of easing compliance costs for small and medium-sized manufacturers.

However, the exemption for stainless steel hot-rolled coils and billets under IS 14650 remains unchanged and is scheduled to expire on 26 Oct 2026, as notified earlier. Imports of these products will continue to qualify for exemption only if the Bill of Lading (BoL) shipment date is on or before the deadline.

Market participants noted that exporters should closely monitor shipment schedules and contractual timelines, as consignments shipped after 26 Oct may require BIS certification for customs clearance in India.

The temporary relaxation is understood to support domestic manufacturers facing production constraints. Meanwhile, exporters, particularly from China, are expected to accelerate shipments of hot-rolled stainless steel products ahead of the October deadline to benefit from the existing exemption.

Note: This article is published as part of a content exchange agreement between SteelDaily and BigMint.