3706.90 Cinematographic film; exposed and developed, whether or not incorporating a sound track or consisting only of sound track, of a width less than 35mm
A full HS code. These six digits are what goes on a customs declaration, and they mean the same thing in every country that uses the Harmonized System.
Section VI, Chemical Products — inorganic and organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, paints and cosmetics.
- 37 Chapter Photographic or cinematographic goods
- 06 Heading Cinematographic film; exposed and developed, whether or not incorporating sound track or consisting only of sound track
- 90 Subheading Cinematographic film; exposed and developed, whether or not incorporating a sound track or consisting only of sound track, of a width less than 35mm
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 37Other codes under 37.06
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 3706.90? A customs hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving — follow the container or the air waybill from departure to delivery.
Track a shipment3706.90 FAQ
3706.90 covers cinematographic film; exposed and developed, whether or not incorporating a sound track or consisting only of sound track, of a width less than 35mm. It sits under heading 37.06 (cinematographic film; exposed and developed, whether or not incorporating sound track or consisting only of sound track) in chapter 37, Section VI of the Harmonized System.
It is the international part of it. Six digits are the same in every country that applies the Harmonized System; the importing country then extends them to eight or ten for its own tariff and statistics. Declare 3706.90 plus whatever national digits the destination’s tariff schedule adds to it.
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.