Other

Antiques exceeding one hundred years, other categories

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 9706 90 00 (Other antiques of an age exceeding one hundred years) is subject to a Restricted import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the ITC (HS) schedule. Import is permitted under the saving clause at Section 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993, read with Customs Notification 157 dated 28-03-1990.

What this is

HSN code

9706 90 00

Chapter

97 · Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 97

Customs documentation

Restricted-import declaration from DGFT
Saving-clause compliance from importer

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the import qualifies under Section 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy and import outside the saving clause is not permitted; the qualifying basis must be documented at the bill of entry.
Section 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993 · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 97
2
Ensure compliance with Customs Notification 157 dated 28-03-1990, which governs the conditions under which antiques exceeding one hundred years may be imported. Supporting provenance documentation establishing the age of the article should accompany the bill of entry.
Customs Notification 157 dated 28-03-1990

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing a standard unrestricted bill of entry without invoking the saving clause. Because the CTI is Restricted, the operative basis for lawful import is Section 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993, read with Customs Notification 157 dated 28-03-1990 — and failure to cite both instruments on the bill of entry exposes the consignment to detention and potential confiscation pending re-export or adjudication.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9706 90 00 require BIS certification?

No, antiques exceeding one hundred years are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed solely by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, with import permitted under Section 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993.

What documentation establishes eligibility under the saving clause for this tariff line?

The importer must cite Section 3(1) of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from Application of Rules in Certain Cases) Order, 1993 and Customs Notification 157 dated 28-03-1990 on the bill of entry, supported by provenance documentation demonstrating the article's age exceeds one hundred years.

Can antiques under HSN 9706 90 00 be imported freely without any DGFT formality?

No. The import policy for this CTI is Restricted; import is permissible only through the saving clause, and consignments lacking the required declaration and supporting provenance are liable to detention or confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962.

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