Import of Paper brought under Compulsory Registration from 1st October

Move addresses dumping concerns of domestic paper industry and also checks re-routing of goods through other countries in lieu of trade agreements

The import policy of major paper products has been amended from ‘Free’ to ‘Free subject to compulsory registration under Paper Import Monitoring System’. A notification to this effect has been issued by DGFT yesterday.

This order shall be applicable on a range of paper products, such as newsprint, handmade paper, wallpaper base, duplicating paper, coated paper, uncoated paper, Litho and offset paper, tissue paper, parchment paper, carbon paper, wall paper, envelops, toilet paper, cartons, account books, labels, bobbins, etc. All imports arriving on or after 1.10.2022 shall be governed by this policy.

Paper products like currency paper, bank bond and cheque paper, security printing paper, etc. have been excluded from this policy change.

Domestic paper industry has been raising issues of dumping of paper products in the domestic market by way of under-invoicing, entry of prohibited goods by mis-declaration, re-routing goods through other countries in lieu of trade agreements.  A large proportion of paper products are imported under “Others” category Tariff Lines. The move will also go a long way in promoting Make In India and Atmanirbhar in this category.

A user friendly interface has been created for the implementation of Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS). Any importer will be able to obtain an automatic registration number online by paying a registration fee of Rs. 500/- . The importer can apply for registration not earlier than 75th day and not later than 5th day before the expected date of arrival of import consignment. The automatic registration Number thus granted shall remain valid for a period of 75 days. Multiple Bill of Entries shall be allowed in same registration number within the validity period of registration for the permitted quantity. Online facility of registration will be available from 15.07.2022.

Compulsory registration for paper imports introduced to curb dumping and control rerouting; online registration required. Import policy for a broad range of paper products is amended to Free subject to compulsory registration under Paper Import Monitoring System for consignments arriving on or after 1 October 2022, excluding currency and security printing papers. The measure targets dumping, under invoicing, mis declaration and rerouting. Importers must obtain an automatic registration number via an online interface, pay a registration fee, apply within the prescribed pre arrival window, and may use the registration to file multiple bills of entry within the registration validity period; online registration opens mid July 2022.