Cartridge tape

Magnetic cartridge tape for recording or storage

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8523 29 80 (Cartridge tape) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37. Where the cartridge tape contains cinematographic or other film content, the importer must hold a certificate of public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and 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 80

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy condition no. 1, Chapters 85 and 37

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Confirm that no unauthorized or pirated film content is carried on the cartridge tape. Where the tape contains cinematographic or other film, obtain a certificate of public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and ensure all applicable Indian laws governing distribution and exhibition of films are complied with at the bill-of-entry stage.
ITC (HS) import policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37
2
If the cartridge tape is a foreign reprint of an Indian film, obtain prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting before the consignment is shipped. Import without this permission is prohibited and the consignment is liable to confiscation.
ITC (HS) import policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing cartridge tape carrying film content — including video tape recordings of Indian films reproduced abroad — without recognising the dual-condition trap: the Cinematograph Act certificate covers public exhibition, but the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting written permission is a separate and independent requirement for foreign reprints of Indian films. A consignment cleared with the exhibition certificate alone, where the content qualifies as a foreign reprint of an Indian film, remains an unauthorized import and is liable to seizure and confiscation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8523 29 80 require BIS certification?

No, cartridge tape under this tariff line is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by DGFT's ITC (HS) import policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37, with compliance obligations under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, where film content is involved.

Does the Cinematograph Act certificate requirement apply to blank cartridge tapes with no recorded content?

The policy condition applies to import of films, including content on video tape; blank, unrecorded cartridge tape does not carry film content, but the prohibition on pirated or unauthorized material applies regardless of the tape's recorded status at importation.

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

The import is prohibited under ITC (HS) policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85; the consignment is liable to seizure and confiscation, and the importer faces enforcement action under the applicable provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

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