Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry

19-March-2012 16:53 IST

Import of Hazardous Substances

          Import of Melamine is free under Exim Code 2933 61 00 of ITC(HS) Classification. Details of import of Melamine during last 3 years are as under :

 All imported goods in India are subject to domestic laws, rules, orders, regulations, technical specifications, environment and safety norms. These regulations are notified in ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items. The Government acts in case goods imported from any source are found to violate these regulations and threaten human, animal or plant life or health. In the specific cases where Customs detect import of fake / toxic goods, such goods are seized and penal action is initiated under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962.

                               Due to concerns regarding melamine contamination in milk and milk products from China, on the recommendation from Food Safety and Standard Authority of India, the Government has prohibited import of milk and milk products including chocolate and chocolate products and candies / confectionery / food preparations with milk or milk solids as ingredient, from China. Further, import of toys has been made subject to meeting the specified technical and safety standards

                     This information was given by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply to a question raised in Lok  Sabha  today.                          

 

   DS/GK

Import restrictions and safety standards govern hazardous goods, enabling seizures and prohibitions to protect public health. Import regulation treats hazardous or non-compliant goods as subject to domestic laws, technical specifications and safety norms; Customs may seize goods and initiate penal action under the Customs Act where imports threaten human, animal or plant life or health. Targeted measures include prohibition of certain milk and milk products from a contaminated source and conditioning toy imports on prescribed technical and safety standards, based on recommendations from the Food Safety and Standards Authority.