SOP for Stainless Steel coil, strip, etc. imported under Advance Authorisation carrying Grades such as J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, etc

Subject: SOP for Stainless Steel coil, strip, etc. imported under Advance

Authorisation carrying Grades such as J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, etc.

Attention of all concerned is invited to above subject.

2.     As is well known, certain Grades of stainless steel, allowed to be imported under
   

Advance Authorisation, such as J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, etc are not specifically covered by any Indian Standard [IS]. These are ‘commercial’ grades and there is no uniformly accepted definition even within trade about exact chemical composition of such grades including core markers of Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), and Manganese (Mn). However as the importers have been issued AAs endorsed with these very specific grades, the matter was referred to the DGFT for guidance, which has informed that AAs are governed by the provisions of Para 4.03(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, Para 4.44(b) of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023, and General Note 1 of Engineering Products (SION Group “C”) and these provisions do not prescribe any restriction specific to the grade or chemical composition of the imported material.

s (HBP) 2023, and General Note 1 of Engineering Products (SION Group “C”) and these provisions do not prescribe any restriction specific to the grade or chemical composition of the imported material. It has been further informed by them that it is mandatory for the authorisation holder to declare the technical characteristics, quality, and specifications of the imported material; that the details, such as chromium content etc., shall be endorsed in the Bill of Entry and/or commercial invoice, duly attested by the Customs Authorities; that the same specifications shall also be adhered to in the resultant export product and must be capable of correlation at the time of export.

3.     In view of above and to ensure that input and output resultant stainless steel
   

products under AAs are correlated, the following guidelines are prescribed. In this context, it may be noted that the Mill Test Certificates, which describe chemical composition of imported material, are not available with DGFT for correlation.

i. Declaration of Grade: The specific grade endorsed in AAs (e.g., J1, J2, J3, J4, J5) be declared in the Bill of Entry “Item Description” field and invoice. Generic description without Grade be avoided. ii. Chemical Composition: The percentage of Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), and Manganese (Mn), which are the core markers of any stainless steel, be declared alongside Grade in the Bill of Entry and invoice. iii.

al Composition: The percentage of Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), and Manganese (Mn), which are the core markers of any stainless steel, be declared alongside Grade in the Bill of Entry and invoice. iii. Export Correlation: Shipping Bills which account for discharge of the AAs should also reflect the percentage of Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), and Manganese (Mn), so that DGFT is able to corelate the resultant export product with input procured under AAs.

4.     All the aforesaid Grades of stainless-steel inputs under AAs shall be facilitated
   

henceforth in above manner. Importers concerned who have already filed Bills of Entry CUS/RMSF/MISC/244/2025-Docks Examn-O/o Pr Commr-Cus-Mundra I/3846669/2026

may apply for amendment, if required, which shall be granted by the officer concerned without delay and the goods can then be taken OOC.

5.     Difficulty, if any, in the implementation of this Public Notice may be brought to the
   

notice of the undersigned.

6.     This issues with the approval of the Commissioner.
   

(Dipak Zala) Additional Commissioner F.No. : CUS/RMSF/MISC/244/2025-Docks Exmn-O/o Pr Commr-Cus-Mundra Date:11-02-2026 Copy to:

1. The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Gujarat Zone, Ahmedabad.
2. NAC Convenor 4/4A Metal Products, Office of Chief Commissioner of Customs, 2nd Floor, Customs House, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, 380009
3. DGFT (with reference to your email dated 10.02.2026), Vanijya Bhawan, 'A' Wing, 16 Akbar Road, New Delhi, 110011
4. NCTC, 13, Sir Vithaldas Thackersey Marg, Oppo. Patkar Hall, New Marine Lines, Mumbai, 400020

eference to your email dated 10.02.2026), Vanijya Bhawan, 'A' Wing, 16 Akbar Road, New Delhi, 110011 4. NCTC, 13, Sir Vithaldas Thackersey Marg, Oppo. Patkar Hall, New Marine Lines, Mumbai, 400020 5. The Additional Commissioner of Customs, Mundra. 6. All the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs CH, Mundra 7. Mundra/Kandla Custom Brokers Association. 8. Container Freight Station Association, Mundra 9. Mundra Shipping Agent Association 10. M/s. MICT Terminal 11. M/s. All Adani Terminals 12. All Trade Association 13. Notice Board/Website 14. EDI Section for uploading on “Commissionerate ’’ website CUS/RMSF/MISC/244/2025-Docks Examn-O/o Pr Commr-Cus-Mundra I/3846669/2026