Other

Trade advertising material, commercial catalogues and similar printed matter

PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCY CLEARANCE

HSN 4911 10 90 (Other trade advertising material and commercial catalogues) is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the ITC (HS) import policy, with a categorical prohibition on obscene printed matter administered by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) under Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964. No sectoral PGA licence is required for ordinary commercial advertising material, but each consignment is subject to content-based examination at the bill of entry.

What this is

HSN code

4911 10 90

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 49; CBIC Notification 01/1964-CUS prohibition overlay

Customs documentation

Content declaration from importer
Import declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Ensure the consignment contains no obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation, figure or article. Import of any such obscene printed matter is categorically prohibited; consignments found to contain prohibited content are liable to confiscation and the importer is subject to prosecution.
Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964
2
File the bill of entry with an importer-certified content declaration confirming the goods are ordinary trade advertising material or commercial catalogues and do not fall within the prohibited categories. The proper officer is entitled to examine the physical contents against this declaration before granting out-of-charge.
Customs 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, not format-based: a commercial catalogue that includes imagery judged obscene under the notification is liable to confiscation in its entirety, not merely in respect of the offending pages. Importers who consolidate multiple advertising titles in a single consignment should pre-screen each title independently, as a single prohibited item within a mixed shipment can render the entire consignment liable to seizure and referral for prosecution.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4911 10 90 require BIS certification?

No. Printed trade advertising material and commercial catalogues are not within any BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a content-based prohibition on obscene printed matter enforced by CBIC under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS.

What constitutes prohibited obscene printed matter under Notification No. 01/1964-CUS?

The prohibition covers any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation, figure or article, per the terms of Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18 January 1964; determination of obscenity is made by the proper officer at the port of import.

What are the enforcement consequences if prohibited content is found in a catalogue consignment?

Consignments containing prohibited obscene printed matter are liable to confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962, and the importer faces prosecution; there is no provision for re-export or remediation once obscene content is confirmed.

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