New Delhi: The government on Thursday exempted
exporters from paying fees for availing incentives under
various export development schemes and reduced other charges.
The maximum fee charged on authorisations/licence
applications on schemes like focus product, focus market,
market access initiative and market development assistance,
have been slashed to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 1.50 lakh (manual
applications) and to Rs 50,000 from Rs 75,000 (for electronic
applications).
The government also extended the time within which
exporters can convert shipping bills from one export scheme to
another, from one month to three months, according to the
Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 released today.
"No fee shall now be charged for grant of incentives under
schemes in Chapter 3 (dealing with export incentives) of the
FTP," the policy said.
Also, the government has decided to form an inter-
ministerial committee which would resolve issues of exporters.
Further, supplies made to a manufacturer who in turn would
pass on the goods to the exporter have been exempted from
payment of excise duty in both the stages.
The government also allowed disposal of manufacturing
wastes, after payment of excise duty. Besides, automobile
firms, which have their own R&D centres, would be allowed free
import of petrol and diesel up to 5 kl, it said.
The Commerce and Industry Ministry is also promoting the
use of electronic systems with initiatives like EDI ports,
electronic message exchange between Customs and the
Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
Further, export promotion councils have been advised to
issue registration-cum-membership certificates through a web-
based online system.
"For EDI ports, with effect from December '09, double
verification of shipping bills by customs for any of the DGFT
schemes shall be dispensed with," the FTP said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, August 27, 2009, 18:01