Customs Act, 1962 — Chapter IV: Prohibitions on Importation and Exportation of Goods
11. Power to prohibit importation or exportation of goods
(1) If the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary so to do for any purpose specified in sub-section (2), it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit either absolutely or subject to conditions the import or export of goods of any specified description.
(2) The purposes referred to in sub-section (1) are: (a) security of India; (b) public order and standards of decency or morality; (c) prevention of smuggling; (d) prevention of shortage of goods; (e) conservation of foreign exchange and safeguarding balance of payments; (f) prevention of injury to the economy from uncontrolled import/export of gold or silver; (g) prevention of surplus of agricultural or fisheries products; (h) maintenance of standards for classification, grading or marketing of goods in international trade; (i) establishment of any industry; (j) prevention of serious injury to domestic production; (k) protection of human, animal or plant life or health; (l) protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value; (m) conservation of exhaustible natural resources; (n) protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs and geographical indications; (o) prevention of deceptive practices; (p) State trading to the exclusion of citizens of India; (q) fulfilment of UN Charter obligations; (r) implementation of any treaty, agreement or convention; (s) compliance of imported goods with laws applicable to similar domestic goods; (t) prevention of dissemination of material prejudicial to friendly relations or national prestige; (u) prevention of contravention of any law; and (v) any other purpose conducive to the interests of the general public.
(3) Any prohibition, restriction or obligation relating to import or export provided in any other law shall be executed under that Act only if it is notified under this Act, subject to such exceptions, modifications or adaptations as the Central Government deems fit.
