Duty on coriander import waived
Friday, 25 December 2009
FE Report
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to waive entire duty on import of coriander (Dhania) seeds to meet local demand of the spice through adequate cultivation.
Presently, there are 25 per cent customs duty and 5.0 per cent regulatory duty (RD) on the coriander seeds that have caused abnormal hike of its prices.
The NBR will offer the duty-free import facility for bulk and 2.5 kilogram packet of coriander.
The board has taken the move after the seeds wing of agriculture ministry requested the NBR to withdraw the excessive duty as on other seeds, a customs official said.
The government waived all import taxes on onion, pulses, wheat and mustard and vegetables seeds in 2007, but duty on the coriander remained unchanged, he said.
This year, the government has slapped 5.0 per cent RD on import of all finished products. Coriander falls in the category which should enjoy the facility like other seeds, the official said.
The revenue board has sent a proposal to the finance minister seeking his permission to waive the duty, he added.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to waive entire duty on import of coriander (Dhania) seeds to meet local demand of the spice through adequate cultivation.
Presently, there are 25 per cent customs duty and 5.0 per cent regulatory duty (RD) on the coriander seeds that have caused abnormal hike of its prices.
The NBR will offer the duty-free import facility for bulk and 2.5 kilogram packet of coriander.
The board has taken the move after the seeds wing of agriculture ministry requested the NBR to withdraw the excessive duty as on other seeds, a customs official said.
The government waived all import taxes on onion, pulses, wheat and mustard and vegetables seeds in 2007, but duty on the coriander remained unchanged, he said.
This year, the government has slapped 5.0 per cent RD on import of all finished products. Coriander falls in the category which should enjoy the facility like other seeds, the official said.
The revenue board has sent a proposal to the finance minister seeking his permission to waive the duty, he added.