Other video cassettes and tapes ¾” and 1” video cassettes

Video cassettes and tapes, three-quarter and one-inch formats

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8523 29 60 (¾" and 1" video cassettes and tapes) is subject to the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37. Importers must comply with all applicable Indian laws governing film distribution and exhibition, including obtaining a certificate of public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Import of foreign reprints of Indian films requires prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

What this is

HSN code

8523 29 60

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Policy Condition No. 1, Chapters 85 and 37

Customs documentation

Certificate of public exhibition from CBFC
Import declaration from DGFT
MIB prior permission from Ministry of I&B

Compliance steps

1
Ensure the film content on the video cassette or tape holds a valid certificate of public exhibition issued under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Import of any unauthorised or pirated film is prohibited, and the certificate must be available at the bill-of-entry stage to demonstrate compliance with Indian laws governing film distribution and exhibition.
Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37 of ITC (HS) · Cinematograph Act, 1952
2
If the consignment contains foreign reprints of Indian films, obtain prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting before shipment. Consignments arriving without this permission are liable to detention and refusal of out-of-charge regardless of whether a public-exhibition certificate exists.
Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37 of ITC (HS)

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is conflating the general prohibition on pirated or unauthorised content with the separate prior-permission requirement for foreign reprints of Indian films. A consignment of legitimately licensed foreign content with a valid public-exhibition certificate clears the first hurdle but will still be detained if it contains Indian-film reprints imported without the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's written authorisation — an approval that must be secured before vessel departure, not at the port of discharge.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8523 29 60 require BIS certification?

No, ¾" and 1" video cassettes and tapes are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37, requiring compliance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

Is a certificate of public exhibition required for all video cassettes imported under this tariff line?

Yes. Any cinematographic or video-tape film content imported under this CTI must comply with the Cinematograph Act, 1952, including the public-exhibition certificate requirement; import of unauthorised or pirated films is categorically prohibited under Policy Condition No. 1.

What is the consequence of importing a foreign reprint of an Indian film without Ministry of I&B permission?

The consignment is treated as a prohibited import under the ITC (HS) policy and is liable to seizure and confiscation; the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's prior written permission must be obtained before shipment and cannot be regularised retrospectively at the port.

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