Transfers (decalcomanias), vitrifiable

Vitrifiable transfers, decalcomanias for glass or ceramic

PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCY CLEARANCE

HSN 4908 10 00 (Transfers (decalcomanias), vitrifiable) is governed at the border primarily by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) under the general prohibition on obscene printed matter notified under Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964. No dedicated sectoral Partner Government Agency licence or registration is required for standard commercial imports of vitrifiable decalcomanias, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy does not restrict this tariff line beyond the obscenity prohibition.

What this is

HSN code

4908 10 00

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

CBIC · Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964 (obscene printed matter prohibition)

Customs documentation

Commercial invoice from exporter
Content compliance declaration from importer

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the vitrifiable transfer designs do not constitute obscene representations, figures, drawings, paintings, or articles as defined under Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964. Consignments assessed as obscene are liable to outright confiscation at the port of import with no re-export option.
Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964
2
File the bill of entry with accurate tariff classification under CTI 4908 10 00 and retain the commercial invoice and packing list confirming the vitrifiable nature of the transfers. No PGA-specific document code upload in e-Sanchit is mandated for this tariff line under the present CCR.
Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is underestimating the scope of the obscenity prohibition: the 1964 notification extends to any representation, figure, or article — not merely books or pamphlets — meaning decorative transfer designs featuring nudity or sexually explicit imagery fall squarely within the prohibition regardless of their industrial application as ceramic or glass decorations. A customs officer's determination of obscenity triggers confiscation without notice; obtaining a written content-compliance confirmation from the foreign supplier before shipment is the only practical safeguard.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4908 10 00 require BIS certification?

No. Vitrifiable decalcomanias are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. The sole binding import restriction is the prohibition on obscene printed matter under Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964, administered by CBIC.

Is a DGFT import licence or PGA clearance required for vitrifiable transfers?

No licence or PGA NOC is required for standard commercial imports of vitrifiable decalcomanias. The tariff line is not Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy, and no sectoral PGA — FSSAI, CDSCO, PESO, or otherwise — is listed for this HSN.

What happens if a consignment of vitrifiable transfers is detained on obscenity grounds?

Consignments found to contain obscene material under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS are liable to confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962; re-export is not guaranteed, and the importer may face monetary penalty and criminal liability under applicable law.

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