New Delhi, May 26 (Agency) Seeking to promote local paper industry and address dumping concerns, the government has made import registration mandatory for a range of papers such as newsprint, handmade paper, wallpaper base, duplicating paper, coated paper and uncoated paper starting October 1, 2022. “The import policy of major paper products has been amended from ‘Free’ to ‘Free subject to compulsory registration under Paper Import Monitoring System’, said Commerce Ministry. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification in this regard listing 201 paper types which have been covered under the order. Paper products like currency paper, bank bond and cheque paper, security printing paper, etc. have been excluded from the policy change.
Commerce Ministry said that domestic paper industry had been raising issues of dumping of paper products in the domestic market by way of under-invoicing, entry of prohibited goods by mis-declaration, re-routing goods through other countries in lieu of trade agreements. It said that the amendment in paper import policy would go a long way in promoting Make In India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Ministry said that an user friendly interface has been created for the implementation of Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS). Accordingly, any importer will be able to obtain an automatic registration number online by paying a registration fee of Rs 500. The importer can apply for registration not earlier than 75th day and not later than 5th day before the expected date of arrival of import consignment. “The automatic registration number thus granted shall remain valid for a period of 75 days. Multiple Bill of Entries shall be allowed in same registration number within the validity period of registration for the permitted quantity. Online facility of registration will be available from 15.07.2022,” the Ministry stated.