Govt exempts select steel shipments from import licence

The government has allowed licence-free import of steel consignments that hit the Indian ports during November-February period of 2008-09 in spite of curbs on their arrivals.

"... It is clarified that the import clearance without a licence may be allowed for the item, Hot Rolled Products not in Coils covered under ITC (HS) Code 7208, which have been imported during the period November 21, 2008 to February 18, 2009," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a circular.

Even as the government restricted imports of hot-rolled coils -- a vital raw material for all flat products including plates and sheets -- in November last year, a number of import consignments were allowed by the Customs without licence being issued by the competent authority to the importers.

On its part, the Customs informed DGFT that the imports were allowed due to confusions on the items restricted by a notification issued in November 2008.

"It has also been informed by the Customs that there have been clearances in this Group under ITC Bond as it was not clear whether the Notification number 63 dated November 21, 2008 covered the whole of 7208 or not," the circular said.

To address the grievances of the importers arising out of the confusion, the import clearance without a licence may be allowed for the shipped items, it added.