Cinematographic film

Cinematographic film, wide-format, black-and-white, unexposed rolls

NO PGA · STANDARD CUSTOMS PROCEDURE

HSN 3702 42 20 (cinematographic film — wide-format, black-and-white, unexposed rolls exceeding 610 mm width and 200 m length) is not covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order and carries no Partner Government Agency clearance requirement at the tariff-line level. Import follows the standard customs procedure: Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), bill of entry, commercial invoice, packing list. Other photographic film products within Chapter 37 — particularly colour photographic film or narrower-gauge cinematographic film — may fall under differently specified tariff lines that carry their own compliance considerations.

No partner government agency notification covers this tariff line.

A word of counsel

The principal importer risk at this tariff line is misclassification: width, length, and colour-versus-monochrome specification are the three axes that determine the correct 8-digit code within heading 3702, and a customs examination that finds any one of these parameters inconsistent with the declared line triggers re-classification and potential retrospective compliance. Importers should ensure that the commercial invoice and packing list state gauge, roll length, and photographic type precisely. Detention pending re-classification is the enforcement outcome where specification documentation is ambiguous.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3702 42 20 require any pre-import registration?

A valid Importer-Exporter Code is required for any commercial import; no product-specific registration applies to this tariff line.

What changes if the film is for colour photography rather than black-and-white?

Colour photographic film of equivalent dimensions is classified under a separate tariff line within Chapter 37 and may attract distinct compliance; accurate declaration of photographic type on the bill of entry is essential to avoid re-classification on examination.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: BIS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.