Pre-shipment inspection: check the exact goods and applicable conditions
PSIC requirements must be checked against the actual classification, condition of goods and current policy. Do not assume every steel, aluminium or electronics import is covered.
A Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate is not a universal requirement for everything described commercially as steel or aluminium. Classification, whether goods are scrap or finished products, applicable policy conditions and exemptions all matter. The previous blanket coverage of HS 7206–7326, 7601–7616 and selected electronics was not established from a primary notice and has been removed.
DGFT publishes recognition and validity information for inspection agencies. A historical recognition notice is not proof that an agency remains authorised today, or that it may inspect every commodity in every country. Confirm the current agency, inspection location and scope before booking.
At purchase-order stage, give your customs adviser the technical description, material, condition, HS classification and origin. Where inspection is required, agree who arranges it and obtain a written agency quotation and schedule. Do not treat a fixed price or lead time from an article as a regulatory entitlement. If cargo has already shipped without a required certificate, seek authority-specific advice promptly rather than assuming that a retrospective document will cure the issue.
Questions we are getting
Does every steel or aluminium import need a PSIC?
Do not assume blanket coverage. Check the exact goods, classification, condition and current import-policy requirements.
Are inspection prices and agency validity fixed?
No universal price or processing time was verified. Obtain a current quotation and verify the agency’s present recognition and scope.
Primary reference
Reviewed 2 October 2026. Historical references are labelled; confirm subsequent amendments before acting.