Lok Sabha Question No. 44 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Flooding of Imports
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 44 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  JULY, 2017

## FLOODING OF IMPORTS

## 44.   SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the  effective  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  Control  the  flooding  of  Indian Markets  with  goods  including  toys  and  children  play  items  containing  hazardous chemicals/materials from China, Taiwan and Korea;
- (b) the list of items for which imports from various other countries particularly China, Taiwan and Korea have been imposed prohibition in the last three years;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  effective  steps  to  protect  the  domestic manufacturers from the flooding of imports from these countries; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)& (b):  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. Adequate  provisions  exist  under  the  Foreign  Trade  Policy  to  protect  the  Indian consumers and producers,  as  imported  goods  are  subject  to  domestic  laws,  rules, orders,  regulations,  technical  specifications,  environmental  and  safety  norms.  The BIS standards applicable to domestic goods are also applicable to imported goods. The  Government  of  India  has  taken  various  measures  for  checking  sub-standard imports, which inter-alia includes the following:
1. Government  has  imposed  prohibition  on  import  of  milk  and  milk  products (including chocolate and chocolate products and candies/confectionary/ food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient) from China since 01/12/2008, which  has  been  extended  from  time  to  time  and  these  products  are  currently prohibited till 23.6.2018. This is the only China specific measure.

2. Import of Toys under EXIM Codes 9503 0010, 9503 0020, 9503 0030 and 9503 0090 are free for import subject to the following two types of certificates:

(i) A certificate that the toys being imported conform to the standards prescribed in (a) ASTM F963 or (b) ISO 8124 (Parts I-III) or (c) IS 9873 [Parts I-III] or

- (d) EN 71; and

(ii) A Certificate of Conformance from the manufacturer that representative sample of the toys being imported have been tested by an independent laboratory which is accredited under International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and found to meet the specifications indicated in (i) above. The certificate would also link the toys in the consignment to the period of manufacture indicated in the Certificate of Conformity.

(c)& (d):    The  issue  of  injury  to  domestic  industry  can  be  addressed  through  trade defence  measures  like  anti  -  dumping  duty,  counter  -  veiling  duty  and  safeguard duty.  Indian  industry  can  seek  remedies  under  the  above  provisions.  Directorate General of Anti-dumping & Allied Duties(DGAD) under the Department of Commerce conducts  anti  -  dumping  and  countervailing  investigations  on  the  basis  of  duly substantiated  petitions  filed  by  the  domestic  industry  affected  by  such  imports. Similarly, Directorate General of Safeguards under the Ministry of Finance conducts safeguard investigation based on which the Central Government imposes Safeguard Duty on any article imported into India in such increased quantities and under such conditions so as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the Indian domestic industry.

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