The Steel Ministry waives off the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) quality check under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) portal for 202 foreign steel manufacturers. This move aims to make it easier for Indian steel producers to get high-grade steel without delays.

In an official statement released, the ministry has said, “In pursuance of the para II of order no. S-20011/15/2024-TECH dated 11.07.2025, 202 numbers of BIS licences (Annexure-1) have been exempted in the SIMS portal from the mandatory adherence requirement of input steel for the final products supplied by Integrated Steel Plants (ISPs) so far.”

The exemptions cover suppliers from multiple countries, including Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, and the US. Japan tops the list with over 80 licences, followed by South Korea with more than 50. These countries mainly supply specialised steel used in industries like automotive, engineering, and other advanced manufacturing.

The decision follows a July 11 order allowing such exemptions based on companies’ self-declaration, provided BIS has verified these. The aim is to ensure uninterrupted availability of steel inputs for domestic producers, especially the integrated steel plants (ISPs).

The exemption applies to about 72 foreign integrated steel plants that hold these 202 BIS licences. It offers temporary relief to the industry, allowing these overseas manufacturers to keep supplying steel to Indian ISPs without the extra compliance requirements under the SIMS system.

The introduction of BIS quality certification rule prevented substandard imports. However, it slowed the supplies of steel grades not made in India. These exemptions aim to solve that problem while still maintaining quality checks.

Big companies like Japan’s Nippon Steel and JFE Steel, and South Korea’s Posco and Hyundai Steel are likely to benefit. The move could help reduce cost for Indian producers at a time when global steel prices are unstable.

The ministry has also announced an “Open House” this month on August 19. The companies can meet officials to discuss problems with the SIMS, Quality Control Orders (QCOs), and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for steel imports.