HS Code 3701Photographic 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

What HS code 3701 covers

Think of heading 3701 as photo material sold as flat sheets or plates. It is sensitised, so it reacts to light. It is unexposed, so no picture has been recorded on it yet. Those three have a heading of their own.

Flat instant print film also belongs here, whether or not it comes in packs. Film on rolls does not. Film that already holds an image does not either.

Some countries call this the HSN code 3701. The Harmonized System heading is the same, and a country may add extra digits for its own customs tariff classification. Always check the exact code your customs office expects.

How to choose the right 3701 subheading

Work through the questions in this order. Stop at the first one that fits your goods.

Duty rates differ from country to country, and this page lists none. Use the HS code classifier to confirm your code, then check the rate with the customs office of the country you ship to.

• Is it x-ray film in the flat? Use 370110. This is the answer to the common search for the HS code for x-ray film in the flat.
• Is it instant print film in the flat? Use 370120.
• Is any side longer than the size limit in the code text for 370130? Use 370130.
• Is it for colour (polychrome) photography and within the size limit? Use 370191.
• Use 370199.

HS 3701 vs nearby Chapter 37 headings

Most mix-ups come from the shape of the film or from what has happened to it. These points keep the headings apart.

The difference between HS 3701 and 3702 is simple. So flat instant print film goes to 370120, while rolled instant print film goes to 3702.

• Paper is the base, so it is not 3701.
• 3706: cinematographic film that is exposed and developed, with or without a sound track.
• 3707: chemical preparations for photographic use, not the film itself.

HS code 3701 import export data on EximDataX

Import and export records show who trades in photographic plates and film. A buyer can use them to find suppliers and sourcing options. A seller can use them to find importers. Because the data is by shipment, you can search for 3701 on its own or for any of its five subheadings, such as the x-ray or instant print codes.

Here is what EximDataX offers for this work.

• EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources.
• Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries.
• Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets.
• Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.
• You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.