L.B. Singhal
Director General

SUB : PERMISSION TO IMPORT NATURAL RUBBER THROUGH ALL PORTS

As per Import Licencing Note I to Chapter 40 of "ITC HS Classification of Export and Import Items", import of natural rubber was permitted only through Custom ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.

In the Open House held with Shri Kamal Nath ji, Hon'ble Commerce & Industry Minister on June 5, 2004, EOUs coming under Cochin SEZ and Noida SEZ had taken up this issue with Shri Kamal Nath ji, Hon'ble Commerce & Industry Minister and had requested that EOUs should be permitted to import natural rubber from all the ports and the present restriction of importing through Kolkata and Visakhapatnam should be removed. Shri Kamal Nath ji, Hon'ble Commerce & Industry Minister had assured the Council in this Open House that Council will not have to represent again on this issue and he will take necessary action.

I am happy to inform you that DGFT has issued Notification No. 44/(RE-2003)/2002-2007 dated 6-8-2004 wherein import of natural rubber has been permitted from all ports for EOUs. A copy of the notification is enclosed alongwith for ready reference.

This is for your information please.

DGFT NOTIFICATION

-COPY OF-
NOTIFICATION NO. 44/(RE-2003)/2002-2007
Dated 6th August, 2004

In exercise of powers conferred by Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992) read with Paragraph 2.1 of the Export and Import Policy, 2002-2007, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends the Import Licensing Note No. 1 of Chapter 40 of ITC (HS) Classification of Export and Import Items, 2002-2007, shall be amended to read as under:-

"(1) Import of natural rubber (all the items classified under Exim Head 40.01) shall be permitted through all ports for both DTA & EOU units".

This issues in public interest.

Sd/-

(G. K. Pillai)
Director General of
Foreign Trade And Ex-officio Addl. Secy.

File No. 01/92/180/210/AM04/PC-IA
Issued by:
Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
Department of Commerce,
New Delhi