All kinds of Magnetic discs

Magnetic discs for recording sound or other phenomena

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8523 29 70 (All kinds of Magnetic discs) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with specific conditions under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37 governing the import of recorded media including films. Any magnetic disc carrying cinematographic content must comply with the Cinematograph Act, 1952, including obtaining a certificate of public exhibition, and foreign reprints of Indian films require prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

What this is

HSN code

8523 29 70

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Certificate of public exhibition from Ministry of I&B
Prior permission from Ministry of I&B

Compliance steps

1
Confirm that no unauthorised or pirated films are present on the imported magnetic discs. For discs carrying cinematographic or film content, the importer must comply with all applicable Indian laws governing distribution and exhibition of films, including obtaining a certificate of public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37, ITC (HS) Import Policy
2
For foreign reprints of Indian films on magnetic disc, secure prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting before the consignment is shipped. Import without this permission is not permitted and the consignment is liable to detention and confiscation.
Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37, ITC (HS) Import Policy

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that blank or commercially recorded magnetic discs outside the film category clear freely, while overlooking that any disc carrying cinematographic content — including content on video tape, compact video disc, laser video disc, or digital video disc format — triggers the Cinematograph Act, 1952 compliance chain. The certificate of public exhibition is a pre-clearance requirement, not a post-import formality; consignments presented at the bill-of-entry stage without it face detention and ground rent accumulation pending regularisation or re-export.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8523 29 70 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers magnetic discs under this tariff line. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with content-specific conditions under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37, including the Cinematograph Act, 1952 regime for film content.

Does the Cinematograph Act certificate requirement apply to all magnetic discs or only those carrying film content?

The certificate of public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 applies only to magnetic discs carrying cinematographic films or other film content; blank discs or discs with non-film recorded data are not subject to this condition, though the prohibition on pirated content applies universally.

What happens if a foreign reprint of an Indian film is imported without Ministry of Information and Broadcasting permission?

Import of foreign reprints of Indian films without prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is not permitted under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 and 37; the consignment is liable to confiscation and the importer faces monetary penalty under the Customs Act, 1962.

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