Pictures, designs and photographs

Printed pictures, designs and photographs

PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCY CLEARANCE

HSN 4911 91 00 (Pictures, designs and photographs) is subject to the absolute 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 other sectoral Partner Government Agency licence is required for non-prohibited content, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) imposes no ITC (HS) Restricted-import condition on this tariff line.

What this is

HSN code

4911 91 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 matter prohibition)

Customs documentation

Content-compliance declaration from importer
Commercial invoice from exporter

Compliance steps

1
Verify that no item in the consignment constitutes an obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation, figure, or article as defined under the prohibition. A consignment containing any prohibited item is liable to outright confiscation at the bill-of-entry stage with no redemption option.
Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964
2
Include a clear content-compliance declaration in the commercial documentation affirming that the printed pictures, designs, and photographs are non-obscene. The customs proper officer retains discretion to examine the consignment for compliance before granting out-of-charge.
Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is underestimating the breadth of the prohibition: the 1964 notification covers not only books but also any drawing, painting, representation, figure, or article that customs officers deem obscene, which means photographic prints and design portfolios containing provocative imagery can be detained and confiscated at the examining officer's discretion. There is no redemption-fine pathway for prohibited obscene matter — confiscation is absolute — so pre-shipment content review by the importer is the only effective safeguard.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4911 91 00 require BIS certification?

No, printed pictures, designs, and photographs fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. The operative control is the absolute prohibition on obscene printed matter under Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS dated 18-01-1964, administered by CBIC.

What documentation must accompany a consignment of printed pictures and photographs at the bill of entry?

No PGA-issued licence is mandated for non-prohibited content; the importer should include a content-compliance declaration with the commercial invoice confirming the goods are not obscene within the meaning of Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS.

What happens if customs officers find obscene material in a consignment under this HSN?

The consignment is liable to outright confiscation under the prohibition notified in Customs Notification No. 01/1964-CUS; no redemption fine is available, and depending on the circumstances, criminal liability under applicable law may also arise.

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