The Hindu Business Line : Carotenoid norms relaxed for crude palm oil import

THE Government has diluted the carotenoid norms but doubled the acid value requirement for crude palm oil imports to be eligible for 65 per cent customs duty.

In a notification on Friday (No. 7/2005), it said palm oil with carotenoid value between 250 and 2,500 parts per million (PPM) would be allowed at 65 per cent customs duty. However, the acid value should be four instead of the earlier two.

In a notification in August 2003, the Government had stipulated that carotenoid value in crude palm oil imports should be between 500 and 2,500 PPM to avoid attracting higher Customs duty. While crude palm oil attracts 65 per cent customs duty, refined oils, including palm group, attract 75 per cent duty. The Government has left the carotenoid and acid value norms unchanged for crude palmolein at 500-2,500 PPM and two respectively.

Ever since the Government set the cartenoid norms to prevent mis-declaration of cargo, the industry has been seeking a revision. However, some importers have been able to "get their consignments cleared" by the Customs authorities.

The industry, particularly, had been contending that carotenoid concentration was subject to deterioration and laboratory tests carried out also vindicated this.

Following this, a team of scientists visited Indonesia to examine the carotenoid issue but before it could issue its report to the Government, the norms have been revised.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Ministry cuts cargo charges for coastal vessels by 40 pc

Carotenoid norms relaxed for crude palm oil import

CBEC working on single data centre

Oracle to link Orissa panchayats