Lok Sabha Question No. 580 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Ban on Import of Exotic Skins of Reptiles and Furs of Animals
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 580 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2017

## BAN ON IMPORT OF EXOTIC SKINS OF REPTILES AND FURS OF ANIMALS

## 580. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

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

- (a) whether  various  Animal  Rights  Activists/Government  Departments  have  made several  representations  seeking  ban  on  the  import  of  skins  of  exotic  reptiles  like crocodiles  and  alligators  and  furs  of  certain  animals  including  foxes  and  minks which are used to manufacture leather or for fur clothing and accessories;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  on  these representations;
- (c) whether banning such imports is not likely to affect manufacturers of leather and clothing accessories and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government in the interest of manufacturers of leather and clothing accessories?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c):  Representations seeking ban on import of skins of exotic reptiles and furs of certain animals  have been received from Ms. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister  for Women and Child  Development and  Ms. Poonam Mahajan, MP (LS)  and organisations like  Animal Welfare  Board  of  India,  Beauty  Without  Cruelty  and  People  for  Ethical  Treatment  of Animals (PETA).

Government, having examined the concerns and issues involved, has issued a Notification (No  33/  2015-20  dated  January  3,  2017)  prohibiting  import  of  items  under  EXIM  Codes 4113 3000, 4301 1000, 4301 6000, 4302 1100 and fur of Chinchilla. Trade in items against the  above  EXIM  codes  were  nil  to  minimal  and  these  being  fur  and  skin  products  of sensitive mammals and reptiles imports of these items were 'Prohibited'.

- (d) : The following measures have been taken to promote leather industry in the country:
- (i)  Rs.  1032.23  Crore  have  been  spent  under  Indian  Leather  Development  Programme (ILDP)  during  XIIth  Five  Year  Plan  till  date.  ILDP  aims  at  augmenting  raw  material  base through modernization and technology up-gradation of leather units, addressing

environmental  concerns,  human  resource  development,  supporting  traditional  leather artisans,  addressing  infrastructure  constraints  and  establishing  institutional  facilities.  In addition to assistance under ILDP as mentioned above, the following steps have also been country:

taken up by government to promote Leather Industry in the (a)  Rs.  495  Crore  has  been sanctioned by Department of Commerce for construction of new  branches  at  Guna,  Patna,  Hyderabad,  up-gradation  of  Chhindwara  Branch  and Computer Networking Centre of FDDI. (b) Rs. 765 Lakh has been sanctioned by Department of Commerce under Market Access Initiative  (MAI) scheme and Rs. 297.93 Lakh under Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) scheme for marketing programmes and activities during 2016-17. (c) Rs. 57.11 Crores has been sanctioned by Department of Commerce under Assistance to  State  for  Infrastructure  Development  of  Exports  (ASIDE)  scheme  for  creation  of common infrastructure facilities. (d) Various other measures implemented for leather sector include no import duty on hides & skins, semi-processed as well as finished leather, raw and tanned furskins; duty free import of Machinery under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme; duty free import of notified inputs to the extent of 3% of Free on Board (FOB) value of export in previous year under Duty Free Import Scheme(DFIS); No excise duty on footwear of MRP upo Rs. 500/-, 6% excise on footwear of MRP over Rs. 500 and upto Rs. 1000 and for leather footwear of MRP over Rs. 1000 along with 30% abatement (e)  Permission  for  100%  Foreign  Direct  Investment  (FDI)  under  automatic  route  in leather sector (f)  MSME  units  in  leather  sector  are  eligible  for  reduction  in  interest  rates  on  rupee export credit to the extent of 3% under Interest Equalization Scheme (g)  Leather  products  and  footwear  components  are  also  entitled  to  3%  scrip  under Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS). (h)  The  export  of  finished  leather  and  leather  products  get  All  Industry  Rates  of  duty

- drawback

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