Picture books

Children's picture, drawing or colouring books

PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCY CLEARANCE

HSN 4903 00 10 (Picture books) is governed at the customs frontier by the absolute prohibition on obscene printed matter under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964, administered by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). No sectoral Partner Government Agency licence or registration applies to this tariff line, and import is otherwise free subject to the content-based prohibition.

What this is

HSN code

4903 00 10

Chapter

49 · Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 49 (obscenity prohibition overlay)

Customs documentation

Commercial invoice from exporter
Content compliance declaration from importer

Compliance steps

1
Verify that no item in the consignment constitutes an obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation, figure, or article within the meaning of the prohibition. Import of any such material is absolutely prohibited and attracts confiscation under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964.
Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964
2
File the bill of entry with a content compliance declaration confirming the consignment is children's picture, drawing, or colouring books falling within the scope of HSN 4903 and not within the prohibited obscene-material category. The proper officer may examine the consignment before granting out-of-charge.
Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964; Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The prohibition under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS is content-based and applies at the time of import irrespective of the commercial intent of the importer. A consignment of children's colouring books that includes any illustrative content the proper officer determines to be obscene is liable to confiscation of the entire consignment, not merely the offending items; pre-shipment review of artwork and imagery against Indian obscenity standards is the only effective safeguard.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4903 00 10 require BIS certification?

No, children's picture, drawing, and colouring books are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. The sole regulatory overlay at import is the absolute prohibition on obscene printed matter under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964, enforced by CBIC at the customs frontier.

Which authority determines whether content is obscene at the port of import?

The customs proper officer makes the initial determination at the bill-of-entry stage under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS; a finding of obscenity renders the consignment liable to outright confiscation without the option of re-export.

Are there any category exemptions or licensing pathways that permit import of otherwise prohibited material under this HSN?

No. The prohibition under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS is absolute; there is no licensing, NOC, or derogation pathway for obscene books, drawings, or representations, and the prohibition applies to the entire consignment if prohibited material is found within it.

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