Prohibited and Restricted Goods

India Customs Prohibited Items

The term “Prohibited Goods” has been defined in sub-section 33 of Section 2 of the Customs Act as meaning “any goods the import or export of which is subject to any prohibition under the Customs Act or any other law for the time being in force”

Travelling to India with Drone


Taking LCD TV to India : Indian Custom Duty on LCD TV


Toy Helicopters Ban
Recently 6,000 toy helicopters confiscated from passengers over the last two years.



Certain goods are prohibited (banned) or restricted (subject to certain conditions) for import and/or export.  These are goods of social, health, environment, wild life and security concerns. Some of them are listed below:  

Prohibited Goods

• Satellite Phone
• Antiquities 
• Wild life products
• Human skeleton
• Specified sea-shells
• Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
• Pornographic and obscene material
• Counterfeit and pirated goods and goods infringing any of the legally enforceable intellectual property rights
• Aero models (such as remote controlled toy helicopters) that operate on high radio bandwidths because of their
• possible interference with the communication networks of security agencies.
• Indian coins which are covered by the Antique and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
• Maps and literature where Indian external boundaries have been shown incorrectly, in view of Government of India.
• Chemicals mentioned in Schedule 1 to the Chemical Weapons Convention of U.N. 1993.
• Beef, tallow, fat/oil of animal origin
• Exotic birds except a few specified ones
• Wild animals, their parts and products
• Specified Live birds and animals

 
Restricted Goods

• Drones
• Medicines and drugs
• Firearms and ammunition
• Live birds and animals including pets
• Plants and their produce e.g. fruits, seeds            
• Endangered species of plants and animals, whether live or dead.  
• Any goods for commercial purpose: for profit, gain or commercial usage.            
• Radio transmitters not approved for normal usage            
• Gold and Silver, other than ornaments (for import only)           
• Currency in excess of prescribed limits
• Telephone and telephony equipments of restricted frequencies
• Certain Animals - Camel, Horses, Cattle
• Semi processed hides and skins
• Silk worms, silk worm seeds and cocoons
• Family Planning Devices (NOC from Ministry of Health Required)
• Vintage products, replicas of antiques or weapons
• Sand and soil
• Whole human blood plasma and certain products derived from human blood
• Sandal-wood (except handicraft products & oil)

Import and export of some specified goods may be restricted/ prohibited under other laws such as Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, Foreign Trade Policy Environment Protection Act, Wild Life Act, Indian Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, Arms Act, etc. Prohibition under those acts will also apply to the penal provisions of the Customs Act, rendering such goods liable to confiscation under section 111(d) of the Customs Act (for import) and 113 (d) of the Customs Act (for export).

Manual: Import / Export Restrictions / Prohibitions under Customs law

Export of most species of wild life and articles made from flora and fauna such as Ivory, Musk, Reptile skins, Furs, Shahtoosh etc. is prohibited. For any clarifications passenger should approach the Regional Deputy Director (Wildlife Preservation) Govt. of India or the Chief Wildlife Wardens of State Governments posted at Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Prohibition on Export of Indian coins :-
No person shall take or send out of India the Indian coins which are covered by the Antique and Art Treasure Act, 1972.

Prohibition on export and import of foreign currency :-
Except as otherwise provided in these regulations, no person shall, without the general or special permission of the Reserve Bank, export or send out of India, or import or bring into India, any foreign currency.


Whenever planning to bring or take any unusual item please enquire about its permissibility for export or import before undertaking the journey. It’s a smart move to do so from both ports, exit and destination so that to ensure that you are inconformity with laws of both countries.

Export and import of currency to or from Nepal and Bhutan :-

Notwithstanding anything contained in these regulations, a person may –

• take or send out of India to Nepal or Bhutan, currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes (other than notes of denominations of above Rs.100 in either case) ;
• bring into India from Nepal or Bhutan, currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes (other than notes of denominations of above Rs.100 in either case) ;
• take out of India to Nepal or Bhutan, or bring into India from Nepal or Bhutan, currency notes being the currency of Nepal or Bhutan.