Plans to add more indigenous products in duty free shops: Govt

The government is looking at adding more indigenously manufactured products to the list of items sold through duty-free shops at airports, Parliament was informed today.

The government has received representations from various trade bodies in this regard and is holding consultations with them, Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

"Representations received from trade bodies to expand the list of indigenously manufactured items allowed to be sold through duty-free shops located in arrival and departure sides in customs airports are being examined by the ministry in consultation with stakeholders," he said.

Under current rules, specified products indigenous to the country are exempted from excise duty when brought for sale in duty free shops in arrival halls of airports from manufacturing units within the country.

Replying to a question on the quantum of such items sold from duty free shops at arrival lounges of Indian airports, Palanimanickam said: "The details of such specified Indian products sold through duty-free shops at the arrival lounge in the year 2009-10 are nil."