(a) whether the Government is considering a smooth
transition from the Duty Entitlement Passbook (DEPB)
Scheme to a duty drawback regime;
(b) whether the Government is implementing the
recommendations of the Saumitra Chaudhury Committee
to expand coverage of duty drawback in order to ensure
compliance with the WTO regulations; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S. PALANIMANICKAM)
(a): No, Sir. In the Foreign Trade Policy, 2004-2009
(updated as on 31st March, 2005), it has been stated
that the DEPB scheme will continue to be operative
until it is replaced by a new scheme which will be
drawn up in consultation with exporters. The matter
is under examination by the Department of Commerce.
(b) & (c): The Central Government vide its order dated
9th March, 2005 had constituted a three-member
Committee consisting of Shri Saumitra Chaudhuri
(Member of Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister)
as Chairman, Shri S.B. Mohapatra, Secretary(Retired)
and Shri T.R. Rustagi, Chief Commissioner of Customs
& Central Excise (Retired) as Members. As per the terms
of reference, the Committee was required to interact with
the stakeholders and work out the modalities for calculation
of All Industry Rates of Duty Drawback, 2005-06. In
pursuance of this mandate, the Committee has had
consultations with the various administrative Ministries,
Export Promotion Councils, trade bodies and individual
exporters. The Committee, after examination of the requests
made by stakeholders, submitted its report on 20.4.2005.
On the basis of recommendations of the Committee, appropriate
duty drawback rates for various export products have been
notified on 2nd May, 2005. The revised rates came into force
with effect from 5th May, 2005.