Presently, there are 425 formally approved Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the country.  As on date, 376 SEZs are notified and 268 SEZs are operational. SEZs are primarily private investment driven initiatives. The delay in setting up of and operationalizing SEZs could be attributed to several reasons including adverse business climate due to changed global economic situation, changes in fiscal incentives, etc.

As per Section 30 of the SEZ Act, 2005, any goods removed from a SEZ to the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) shall be chargeable to duties of customs including anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, where applicable, as leviable on such goods when imported.   

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Duty liability on goods removed from SEZs: customs, anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties apply upon entry into DTA. The legal framework establishes that goods removed from Special Economic Zones to the Domestic Tariff Area are chargeable to customs duties, including applicable anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties, levied as they would be when such goods are imported.