New rules may ban import of battery-run light vehicles

The new import policy has proposed banning various battery-run vehicles, including easy-bikes and rickshaws, to reduce wastage of electricity.

The commerce ministry has already prepared the draft import policy for 2015 to 2018, which will come into effect after the prime minister gives it the nod.

A high official of the commerce ministry said the battery-run vehicles consume huge amounts of electricity and cause accidents.

One of the aims of the new import policy is to ensure supply of quality, environment-friendly and healthy commodities, according to the draft.

To make food safer, a proposal has been made to ban import of various chemicals and insecticides.

Besides, to control sound pollution, import of horns above 75 decibel has been banned.

While importing poultry feed, fish meal and fodder for cattle, the dates of manufacturing and expiry have to be mentioned.

Fish meal and protein concentrate can be imported provided they come with a certificate from a competent authority of the exporting country and that they are free of harmful chemicals including chromium and tannery by-products.

The main aim of the policy is to make the import processes more business friendly and compliant and in line with the pace of globalisation and free market economy.

It also aims to make the import of capital machinery easier for expansion of modern technology.

Software has been included as a new import product and it can be imported with the clearance of the ministry and with recommendation of the concerned trade body.

Besides, without opening letters of credit, unlimited amounts of raw materials or capital machinery can be imported for use in one's own factory.

However, in case of commercial import, a maximum of $200,000 can be brought in.

The existing policy permits imports worth $100,000.

Up to $300,000 worth of goods can be imported without permission from the authorities concerned under the new policy. Previously, the upper bound was $200,000.

For personal use, maximum goods worth $7,000 can be imported instead of existing $5,000.

No objection certificates from the ministry of information will be required from now onwards for importing foreign films. There is no such provision in the existing policy.