Lok Sabha Question No. 589 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Import of Chinese Non-essential Goods
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Supriya Sadanand Sule

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 589

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th FEBRUARY, 2020

## IMPORT OF CHINESE NON-ESSENTIAL GOODS

## 589. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

SHRI GAUTAM SIGAMAANI PON: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  announced  strict  restrictions  on  imports  of  non  essential goods from China recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of number of such non essential goods;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  on  the  loss  being  incurred  by  the domestic manufacturers due to increase in such imports of such goods from China and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to ban the import of cheap plastic goods from China due to toxic contamination;
- (e) if so, the details thereof indicating the period of ban/restrictions;
- (f) whether the Government proposes to review the import policy in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the  details  of  other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  help  in  reducing  India's dependence on China and to curb low quality imports from China?

## ANSWER

## okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): India does  not  maintain  any  country  specific  import  restrictions except  for considerations like scientific, environmental, health & life of human, animal and plant. However, the assessments on the effectiveness of various remedial measures, including, restrictions taken to  curb  non-essential  imports  takes  into  account  several  factors  such  as  existing  domestic manufacturing  capacities  and  its  utilization,  quality  of  imports,  import  intensity  of  exports, provisions of bilateral/multilateral agreements etc.

(d) to (g):  Adequate provisions exist to protect the Indian consumers from low quality and harmful imports, as imported goods are subject to domestic laws, rules, orders, regulations, technical specifications,  environmental  and  safety  norms.  In  order  to  strengthen  the  implementation  of environmentally  sound  management  of  hazardous  waste  in  the  country,  the  Ministry  of Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  notified  the  Hazardous  and  Other  Wastes (Management  & Transboundary  Movement)  Rules,2016.  Further,  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. The BIS standards applicable to domestic goods are also applicable to imported goods.

The Government on the recommendation of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India, had prohibited import of milk products including chocolate and chocolate products, candies/confectionaries/food preparations with milk from China due to the concerns regarding high melamine contamination in 2008, which has been extended vide DGFT notification dated 23.04.2019.

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