DVD

DVD optical discs for recorded content distribution

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8523 49 40 (DVD) is subject to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85, which requires importers to comply with all applicable Indian laws governing the distribution and exhibition of films, including a certificate of public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Import of unauthorised or pirated films is absolutely prohibited, and foreign reprints of Indian films require prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

What this is

HSN code

8523 49 40

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) policy condition No. 1 to Chapter 85; Cinematograph Act, 1952

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a certificate of public exhibition issued under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 for any cinematographic film imported on DVD format before filing the bill of entry. Absence of this certificate renders the import non-compliant with Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 and exposes the consignment to detention and confiscation.
Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 · Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 37 · Cinematograph Act, 1952
2
For foreign reprints of Indian films on DVD, secure prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting before shipment. Importation without this written permission is prohibited regardless of whether a certificate of public exhibition is held.
Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 · Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 37

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing blank or data DVDs without separately assessing whether any recorded content on the disc triggers the Cinematograph Act, 1952 certification requirement. Customs officers assess the nature of the recorded content at the bill of entry stage; a disc carrying unreleased or uncertified film content is treated as an unauthorised import even if the carrier medium is otherwise freely importable. Ensure content clearance precedes, not follows, the shipment decision.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8523 49 40 require BIS certification?

No, DVD optical discs under this tariff line are not subject to any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 of the ITC (HS), read with the Cinematograph Act, 1952, for recorded film content.

Does the certificate of public exhibition requirement apply to all DVDs, including data discs?

The obligation under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85 applies specifically to cinematographic films and other films — including content on digital video disc — not to blank or purely data-carrying media. However, any disc carrying film content triggers the certification requirement regardless of its primary commercial description.

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 prohibited under Policy Condition No. 1 to Chapter 85; 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.