Lok Sabha Question No. 2259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Checking of Imported Chemicals
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2259

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## CHECKING OF IMPORTED CHEMICALS

2259.   MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has any established mechanism to regularly check samples of imported chemicals  such as  Boric  acid  including  from  Special  Economic  Zones  (SEZs)  to Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) in the country and if so, the details thereof:
- (b) whether the Government has any data on the number imported consignments of Chemicals such as Boric Acid which has been checked for conformity to standards such as IS 10116:2015 from 2019 till date;
- (c ) if so, the number of samples which were drawn from such imported consignments including form SEZs to DTA and the number of such consignments which have failed the conformity test as per the standard of IS 10116:2015;
- (d) whether the Government has any provision under the Foreign Manufacturer Certification scheme to grant any license  under  old standards retrospectively such as IS  10116:1982 for Boric Acid inspite of the updated current standard of  IS  10116:2015 for Boric  Acid  being present and applicable: and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

Point wise reply of above points (a) to (e) of Parliament Question is as under:

- (a)  to  (c)  :  As  per  the  information  provided  by  Department  of  Revenue,  under  the  Risk Management System, instructions are issued for drawing of samples for testing to the assessing officers upon filing of Bill of Entry for import of goods including chemicals like Boric Acid. Further, CBIC vide Circular 61/2004-Cus dated 28.10.2004 and 37/2005 dated 06.09.2005 has regulated the import of Boric Acid, wherein importers should register with Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee. The details of such testing is as tabulated below:
- (d) : After the revision of an Indian Standard, the concurrent running period of old and revised version is allowed to facilitate the licensee/manufacturer to switch over to the revised standard within the stipulated time period. After the concurrent running period is over, the old version of the Indian Standard is withdrawn by a gazette notification. There is no provision for grant of BIS Certification/license against a withdrawn Indian Standard.

| Year                 |   No. of Imported consignments of Chemicals sent to Lab for Testing No. of consignments failed as per Test |   No. of Imported consignments of Chemicals sent to Lab for Testing No. of consignments failed as per Test |
|----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20              |                                                                                                        618 |                                                                                                          0 |
| 2020-21              |                                                                                                        698 |                                                                                                          8 |
| 2021-22              |                                                                                                        833 |                                                                                                          1 |
| 2022-23              |                                                                                                        624 |                                                                                                          2 |
| 2023-till 08.08.2023 |                                                                                                        261 |                                                                                                          5 |
| Total                |                                                                                                       3034 |                                                                                                         16 |

(e): Not applicable.

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