Cartridge tape

Unrecorded magnetic cartridge tape for data storage

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8523 41 40 (Cartridge tape, unrecorded) 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. Importers must ensure the consignment is genuinely unrecorded; any recorded content — including cinematographic or video material — triggers compliance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and a prohibition on unauthorised or pirated films.

What this is

HSN code

8523 41 40

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

Import declaration from DGFT
Compliance declaration from importer
Certificate of public exhibition from CBFC

Compliance steps

1
Confirm at the bill-of-entry stage that the cartridge tapes are genuinely unrecorded. If the consignment contains any recorded cinematographic or video content, the importer must hold a certificate of public exhibition issued under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and comply with all applicable Indian laws governing distribution and exhibition of films.
ITC (HS) policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37
2
Ensure that no foreign reprint of an Indian film is included in the consignment without prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Import of unauthorised or pirated films is absolutely prohibited and renders the consignment liable to confiscation.
ITC (HS) policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is declaring cartridge tapes as unrecorded when the shipment in fact contains pre-loaded or test-recorded content. Customs officers routinely verify physical media at the bill-of-entry stage, and a misdescription converts an otherwise straightforward import into a Restricted-policy breach under Chapter 85, exposing the consignment to seizure and the importer to penalties under the Customs Act, 1962 and the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8523 41 40 require BIS certification?

No, unrecorded magnetic cartridge tapes are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37.

What certificate is required if the cartridge tape carries recorded cinematographic content?

A certificate of public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 is mandatory, and the importer must comply with all Indian laws governing film distribution and exhibition before the consignment can be cleared.

Can foreign reprints of Indian films be imported on cartridge tape without special permission?

No. Import of foreign reprints of Indian films is prohibited without prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and unauthorised imports are liable to confiscation.

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