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Documentary shorts, and films certified as such by the Central Board of Film Certification

Exposed developed cinematographic film, documentary shorts (35 mm or more)

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 3706 10 20 (Documentary shorts certified by the Central Board of Film Certification) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), permitted under policy condition 1 of Chapter 37. No additional sectoral PGA clearance is listed; compliance turns on satisfying the stated ITC (HS) policy condition at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is
HSN code
3706 10 20
Chapter
37 · Photographic or cinematographic goods
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy condition 1, Chapter 37
Customs documentation
  • ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT
  • CBFC certification from Central Board of Film Certification
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Verify that the imported cinematographic film has been certified as a documentary short by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), as the tariff classification itself requires CBFC certification to fall within HSN 3706 10 20. Present evidence of certification at the bill-of-entry stage.
    ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 37
  2. 2
    Declare compliance with ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 37 on the bill of entry. Failure to satisfy the stated policy condition converts the import from a permitted entry into a restricted-import contravention under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
    ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 37
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing exposed and developed cinematographic film of 35 mm or more without confirming that the CBFC certification specifically designates the film as a documentary short — the certification is both the classification anchor and the ITC (HS) policy-compliance instrument. Film cleared under a different CBFC category cannot be reclassified post-import; misclassification attracts reassessment, differential duty, and potential confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 3706 10 20 require BIS certification?
No. Exposed and developed cinematographic film is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under policy condition 1 of Chapter 37, with CBFC certification as the operative classification requirement.
What is the role of the Central Board of Film Certification at customs clearance?
CBFC certification is the classification prerequisite: only film certified by the CBFC as a documentary short qualifies under HSN 3706 10 20, making the certificate both a product-description requirement and the primary customs documentation for this tariff line.
What happens if the film does not carry CBFC documentary-short certification at the time of import?
Without CBFC certification as a documentary short, the consignment cannot be classified under HSN 3706 10 20 and would be assessed under the appropriate alternate tariff line, potentially attracting a different duty rate and ITC (HS) policy treatment.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related
ChapterChapter 37 · Photographic or cinematographic goodsHSNCINEMATOGRAPHIC FILM, EXPOSED AND DEVELOPED, WHETHER OR NOT INCORPORATING SOUND TRACK OR CONSISTING ONLY OF SOUND TRACKHSNOf a width of 35 mm or more: