(a) whether the Government has taken note that Chinese consumer goods are available in North- East States in all markets i.e. from kiosks to mall;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether these goods are coming through proper channel;
(d) if not, the measures taken by the Government to channelise it; and
(e) whether any Chinese investment has been made in North-East States, particularly in Assam and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPEN- DENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) and (b) - All goods being imported from any country (including China) into India (including North East States) are subject to prescribed procedure and regulatory checks and have to abide by domestic laws, rules, orders, regulations, technical specifications, environmental and safety norms. India has removed all Quantitative Restrictions on imports, except those necessitated mainly on grounds health security, public morale and environment. However, adequate provisions exist to protect the Indian consumers and producers e.g. imposition of Minimum Import Price, Customs Duty and Qualitative Restrictions etc.
(c) and (d) - As regards goods smuggled illegally into the country the primary responsibility of prevent- ing entry of smuggled goods into India lies with Indian Customs, supported by security agencies. Penal action is initiated under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 read with other allied Acts in case of any violation. The Government of India has also taken various measures for checking sub-standard imports, which inter-alia include the following:
i. Government has imposed prohibition on import of milk and milk products (including chocolate and chocolate products and candies/confectionary/food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient) from China since 01.12.2008, which has been extended from time to time and these products are currently prohibited till 23.06.2015.
ii. Import of toys is subject to quality standards prescribed in the Foreign Trade Policy.
iii. Government has imposed prohibition on the import of mobile handsets (mobile phone) without International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) No. or with all zeroes IMEI and import of CDMA mobile phones without Electronic Serial Numbers (ESN), Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID) or all zeroes ESN/MEID.
iv. Government has also notified products under compulsory certification/registration with one of the objective of checking influx of substandard products into the Indian markets.
(e) As per the DIPP database, FDI equity inflow received at Guwahati Regional Office (covering Assam State) from China are NIL.