The Hindu Business Line : EOUs/SEZs dealing in spices must register with board

THE Government has made it mandatory for all export-oriented units (EOUs)/special economic zone (SEZ) units involved in exports/imports of spices to register with the Spices Board.

Hitherto, the development commissioner of the EOU/SEZ unit concerned was functioning as the registering authority for such units.

"It has been decided that in case of spices, it would be mandatory for the EOU/SEZ units to get themselves registered with the Spices Board. This will also be applicable to existing units in EOU/SEZ engaged in import/export of spices. This requirement should be strictly complied with," a circular issued on Monday by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said.

Informed sources said the objective behind the move was to ensure better monitoring, especially on the quality front, of spices exports as well as imports. Spices exports during 2004-05 stood at about Rs 2,200 crore.

Meanwhile, the DGFT has clarified that a branch office of a foreign company can be issued an importer-exporter code (IEC) number so long as the branch office in India had been opened with the permission of the Reserve Bank of India under its foreign exchange management regulations. Further, the branch office should have been permitted by the RBI to undertake import or export business in India.

The 10-digit IEC number is a must for carrying out export and import activities. There are however certain categories of persons who are exempted from obtaining an IEC.

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EOUs/SEZs dealing in spices must register with board