Made wholly in black and white and of a length exceeding 4,000 m

Exposed developed black-and-white cinematographic film, long reels

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 3706 90 12 (exposed and developed black-and-white cinematographic film exceeding 4,000 m) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under policy condition 1 of Chapter 37. No additional sectoral PGA clearance applies; the operative obligation is DGFT policy compliance at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

3706 90 12

Chapter

37 · Photographic or cinematographic goods

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 37, policy condition 1

Customs documentation

ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT
Bill of entry from CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the import satisfies ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 37 before filing the bill of entry. The consignment is permissible under that condition and no separate import licence is required, provided the policy condition is met and declared correctly.
ITC (HS) import policy condition 1 of Chapter 37
2
Ensure the bill of entry accurately describes the film as wholly black-and-white and exceeding 4,000 m in length, as both attributes determine the 8-digit classification and trigger the Chapter 37 policy condition overlay. Misdescription of length or colour composition risks reclassification and re-examination.
ITC (HS) import policy condition 1 of Chapter 37 · Indian Customs Tariff, Chapter 37

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is misclassifying colour film — or mixed colour-and-black-and-white prints — under this code, or failing to confirm the reel length exceeds 4,000 m. Either misclassification routes the consignment to a different 8-digit code with a potentially different policy condition, exposing the importer to misdeclaration proceedings and re-examination detention at the port of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3706 90 12 require BIS certification?

No. Exposed and developed cinematographic film is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy condition 1 of Chapter 37, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

What is the significance of the 4,000 m length threshold for classification under this code?

The 4,000 m threshold is a hard classificatory boundary: film of 4,000 m or less falls under a separate 8-digit code with its own policy condition. The actual measured reel length must be documented and declared at the bill of entry.

Does the film need to be wholly black-and-white to qualify under this tariff line?

Yes. The descriptor requires that the film be made wholly in black and white; any colour content, even partial, disqualifies the consignment from this code and requires classification under the appropriate colour-film heading.

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