Children’s video films

Children's video films on recorded media

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8523 80 40 (Children's video films) is subject to the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37, requiring compliance 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 prohibited, and foreign reprints of Indian films require prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

What this is

HSN code

8523 80 40

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 1, Chapters 85 and 37; Cinematograph Act, 1952

Customs documentation

Certificate of Public Exhibition from Ministry of I&B
Prior written permission from Ministry of I&B
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration to DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Certificate of Public Exhibition as prescribed under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 before filing the bill of entry. The importer must demonstrate compliance with all applicable Indian laws governing the distribution and exhibition of films, as mandated by policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85 and Chapter 37 of the ITC (HS).
Cinematograph Act, 1952 · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37
2
If the consignment comprises foreign reprints of Indian films, obtain prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting before shipment. Import of such reprints without this permission is not permitted and will attract confiscation at the port of entry.
ITC (HS) policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing the bill of entry on the basis of a general DGFT Restricted-import compliance declaration without uploading the Cinematograph Act Certificate of Public Exhibition. Films — including children's video films on disc or digital media — are treated as cinematographic content subject to exhibition certification, not merely as recorded electronic media. An imported consignment lacking the Certificate of Public Exhibition is liable to detention and confiscation regardless of the physical medium on which the content is carried.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8523 80 40 require BIS certification?

No, children's video films on recorded media are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under policy condition no. 1 to Chapters 85 and 37, with compliance requirements under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

Does the Certificate of Public Exhibition requirement apply to all physical formats — DVD, laser disc, compact video disc?

Yes. Policy condition no. 1 to Chapter 85 expressly covers films on video tape, compact video disc, laser video disc, and digital video disc, meaning the certification obligation applies regardless of the physical format of the imported children's video film.

What additional clearance is required if the children's video film is a foreign reprint of an Indian film?

Prior written permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is mandatory before import; failure to obtain it renders the consignment liable to confiscation under the ITC (HS) prohibition on unauthorised foreign reprints of Indian films.

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