Chapter 37 — Photographic or cinematographic goods 4-digit heading

37.04 Photographic plates, film, paper, paperboard and textiles, exposed but not developed

One level above the number you declare. Pick one of the six-digit codes below.

Section VI, Chemical Products — inorganic and organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, paints and cosmetics.

  1. 37 Chapter Photographic or cinematographic goods
  2. 04 Heading Photographic plates, film, paper, paperboard and textiles, exposed but not developed
  3. —— Subheading Pick one of the 1 six-digit codes below

Chapter 37 covers photographic or cinematographic goods: unexposed film, photographic plates, chemicals for developing, and related supplies. Digital photography has shrunk this chapter's practical trade volume considerably compared to the film era, but it still covers specialty and cinema film stock. Classification tip: Exposed but undeveloped film and developed film/prints are classified differently: the state of the film (unexposed, exposed, developed) is the deciding factor, not the camera format.

All of chapter 37

The 1 six-digit code under 37.04

One of these is the number you declare.

Other headings in chapter 37

37.01 Photographic plates and film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs 37.02 Photographic film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed 37.03 Photographic paper, paperboard and textiles; sensitised, unexposed 37.05 Photographic plates and film; exposed and developed, other than cinematographic film 37.06 Cinematographic film; exposed and developed, whether or not incorporating sound track or consisting only of sound track 37.07 Chemical preparations for photographic uses (other than varnishes, glues, adhesives and similar preparations); unmixed products for photographic uses, put up in measured portions or for retail sale

The wording above is the Harmonized System nomenclature as published by the World Customs Organization, HS 2022 edition. It is a classification reference, not a tariff: it carries no duty rates, and it stops at six digits — the importing country adds its own beyond that.

Classification is decided by the General Rules of Interpretation and the section and chapter notes, and it is the importing country’s customs authority that makes it binding.

Shipping goods under 37.04? A customs hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving — follow the container or the air waybill from departure to delivery.

Track a shipment

37.04 FAQ

Heading 37.04 covers photographic plates, film, paper, paperboard and textiles, exposed but not developed. It is part of chapter 37 (photographic or cinematographic goods), and it is subdivided into 1 six-digit subheadings — the level you actually declare.

Pick one of the 1 subheadings below. Those six digits are what customs recognises internationally; the importing country may extend them to eight or ten in its own tariff schedule.

The General Rules of Interpretation, read together with the notes to Section VI and to chapter 37. A description that reads right is not enough on its own — the notes routinely pull goods out of the chapter they obviously belong to and put them somewhere else. Where duty or licensing turns on the answer, ask the importing country’s customs authority for a binding ruling.

A wrong or missing code is one of the common reasons customs holds a container, and a hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving. Watch for it in the container tracking app, on the air waybill in the air cargo tracker, or through the tracking API.

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