Collections and collectors' pieces of archaeological, ethnographic or historical interest

Archaeological, ethnographic and historical collectors' pieces

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 9705 10 00 (Collections and collectors' pieces of archaeological, ethnographic or historical interest) is subject to the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with import permitted only under Saving Clause 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993, read with Customs Notification No. 157 dated 28-03-1990.

What this is

HSN code

9705 10 00

Chapter

97 · Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Saving Clause 3(1), Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993

Customs documentation

Saving Clause declaration from DGFT
Compliance documentation from importer

Compliance steps

1
Establish that the import qualifies under Saving Clause 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993 before filing the bill of entry. Import of items under this CTI is Restricted and no general licence is available; the saving clause is the sole operative pathway.
ITC (HS) import policy for CTI 9705 10 00 · Saving Clause 3(1), Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993
2
Ensure compliance with Customs Notification No. 157 dated 28-03-1990, which governs the customs treatment of archaeological, ethnographic and historical pieces imported under the saving-clause pathway. Present the relevant documentation at the bill of entry to obtain out-of-charge.
Customs Notification No. 157 dated 28-03-1990

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is attempting to import archaeological or historical pieces under a general ITC (HS) authorisation or treating the Restricted status as a formality. The saving clause is narrow: it applies to specific categories of persons and purposes defined in the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993, and a consignment that does not satisfy those conditions is liable to detention and confiscation at the customs barrier without recourse to a post-entry regularisation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9705 10 00 require BIS certification?

No, collectors' pieces of archaeological, ethnographic or historical interest are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with the sole permitted pathway being Saving Clause 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993.

Can any importer bring in archaeological or historical pieces under this CTI?

No. Import is Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy and is permissible only where the importer satisfies the conditions of Saving Clause 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993, read with Customs Notification No. 157 dated 28-03-1990.

What happens if a consignment under HSN 9705 10 00 does not qualify under the saving clause?

A consignment that cannot demonstrate saving-clause eligibility is liable to detention and confiscation at the port of entry under the Restricted-import enforcement provisions of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

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