Master positives, exposed negatives, dupes and rush prints as are not cleared for public exhibitions

Cinematographic film master positives, negatives, dupes, rush prints

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 3706 90 92 (Master positives, exposed negatives, dupes and rush prints not cleared for public exhibitions) is subject to the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under policy condition 1 of Chapter 37. No additional sectoral PGA licence applies; compliance rests entirely on satisfying the DGFT import policy condition at the bill of entry.

What this is

HSN code

3706 90 92

Chapter

37 · Photographic or cinematographic goods

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Policy condition declaration from DGFT
ITC (HS) compliance documentation from importer

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the import satisfies policy condition 1 of Chapter 37 of the ITC (HS) Schedule before filing the bill of entry. The tariff line is Restricted and clearance requires documentary confirmation that the condition is met; consignments without this evidence are liable to detention at the customs station.
ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 37
2
Ensure the bill of entry accurately describes the goods as master positives, exposed negatives, dupes or rush prints that are not cleared for public exhibitions, as this is the operative scope of the 8-digit classification. Misclassification into an adjacent CTI can trigger re-assessment and monetary penalty.
ITC (HS) Chapter 37 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is conflating the 'not cleared for public exhibitions' qualifier with a blanket prohibition: the goods are importable, but only under DGFT policy condition 1 of Chapter 37, and the documentary basis for satisfying that condition must be presented at the bill of entry. Failure to produce compliant documentation — even where the physical goods are clearly within scope — results in consignment detention and potential demurrage until the condition is evidenced.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3706 90 92 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers cinematographic film master positives or rush prints. Import is governed exclusively by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy condition 1 of Chapter 37 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

What does policy condition 1 of Chapter 37 require at the bill of entry?

The regulatory record records the condition as the operative gate for Restricted-import clearance; importers should obtain the current text of condition 1 from the ITC (HS) Schedule and ensure the documentary evidence satisfying it is uploaded before out-of-charge.

Does the 'not cleared for public exhibitions' qualifier affect the duty rate or only the import policy status?

It affects the classification and therefore the applicable import policy — goods cleared for public exhibitions fall under a separate CTI and a different policy regime. Filing under the wrong CTI attracts re-assessment, differential duty recovery, and potential penalty.

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