(a) whether the Government proposes to put a ban on the import and sale of subtandard Chinese goods in Indian Markets;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government proposes to formulate any mechanism to ensure that only quality and standard goods are imported from China; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a) & (b): Goods are imported into the country subject to all the domestic laws/rules regarding protection of environment, ensuring quality, standards and national security. The Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) explicitly lays down that whatever domestic Laws/ Rules/ Orders/ Regulations / Technical specifications/ environmental/ safety and health norms are applicable on domestically produced goods, the same shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to imports.
Being a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO), India cannot put an outright ban on import from a specific country as this will violate our commitments with WTO. Import restrictions can be imposed only for protecting human, animal and plant life or health, protection of environment, national security, public moral and protection of intellectual property.
(c) & (d): India has an elaborate and robust legal framework and institutional set up to protect its environment, life and health of its people, plants and animals. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF& CC) has notified the Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 for environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. For imported food and edible items, Food Safety and standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Rules there under are applicable. Mandatory BIS standards applicable to domestic goods like cement, steel, electrical goods, dry batteries, gas cylinders, plastic feeding bottles, automotive tyres are also applicable to imported goods.
Further, import of milk and milk products (including chocolates and chocolate products and candies/ confectionary/ food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient) from China is prohibited till 23.6.2018 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Also, imports of Toys are subject to prescribed standards. Besides, import of “Fireworks” is ‘restricted’ and for last three years no license /authorization have been issued. Government has also 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.
Field formations of Customs have been sensitized to prevent illegal imports.
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