Team News Riveting
New Delhi, May 1
Reeling under severe shortage of oxygen concentrators amidst second wave of contagious COVID-19, the Government of India had included the product in the import exempted category list.
“In exercise of powers conferred by sector 3 and 5 of the FT (D&R) Act, 1992, read with para 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends para 2.25 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2015-2020,” a notification issued by Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry dated April 30, 2021 said.
The import of goods including those purchased from e-commerce portals, through post or courier, where custom clearance is sought as gifts, is prohibited except for life saving drugs/medicines/oxygen concentrators and Rakhi (but not gift related to Rakhi), the notification said. The revised clause would facilitate people to purchase oxygen concentrators from abroad for personal without paying the import duty.
This exemption is valid till 31 July 2021.
The move of the government would be a relief for the people looking for procuring oxygen concentrators as scarcity had resulted in black marketing of the product. According to reports coming from different parts of the country, the price of oxygen concentrator had touched Rs 1.5 lakh in many cities as against the original price of Rs 40,000 to 50,000.
