DVD

Unrecorded DVD optical discs for data storage

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8523 41 60 (DVD) 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. Imports of cinematographic and other films on digital video disc must comply with all applicable Indian laws governing distribution and exhibition, including the certification requirement 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 41 60

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 compliance from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Verify that all films being imported on DVD comply with the provisions of applicable Indian laws governing distribution and exhibition. Where the DVD contains cinematographic or other film content, obtain a certificate of public exhibition as prescribed under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, before filing the bill of entry.
Policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37 of ITC (HS)
2
For any foreign reprint of an Indian film on DVD, obtain prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting before shipment. Consignments arriving without this permission are liable to detention and confiscation as unauthorised imports under the ITC (HS) policy.
Policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37 of ITC (HS)

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing DVDs carrying film content — including promotional, documentary, or music-video content — without obtaining the Cinematograph Act, 1952 certificate, on the assumption that the disc is merely a blank or data-storage medium. The policy condition attaches to the content of the disc, not to the physical format; a consignment of DVDs containing any film content without the requisite exhibition certificate is liable to seizure and confiscation as unauthorised film material.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8523 41 60 require BIS certification?

No, unrecorded DVDs are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. 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, with content-specific requirements under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

Does the Cinematograph Act certificate requirement apply to completely unrecorded blank DVDs?

The policy condition targets films and film content imported on DVD; a genuinely blank, unrecorded disc carries no film content and therefore does not attract the exhibition certificate requirement, though the importer bears the burden of establishing the unrecorded status at customs.

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

Import of such reprints without prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is prohibited under ITC (HS) policy condition no. 1, and the consignment is liable to confiscation as an unauthorised import.

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