POLICY CIR NO. 01/2007, DT. 26/07/2007

Guidelines for import of Rough Marble Blocks/Slabs for the year 2007-08.
A number of representations have been received from the various associations of marble manufacturers/ processors for review of the regime governing import of marble. The matter has been considered carefully by the Government. The following provisions will henceforth be applicable for import of rough marble blocks/slabs for the year 2007-08.

1. Attention is invited to EXIM Code Nos.25151100, 25151210, 25151220, 25151290 indicated in Schedule-1 (imports) of ITC(HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items, 2004-2009 As per the provisions contained therein, import of Marble and Travertine - Crude or Roughly trimmed, Merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape & other Calcareous Stone is restricted and subject to import licensing procedures. Applications for such licences are considered by the EXIM Facilitation Committee (EFC) (an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising of representatives from various Ministries/Departments), in the DGFT, New Delhi.

2. The EXIM Facilitation Committee (EFC) will consider applications for import under the above mentioned Exim Codes in the following manner:-

I. Eligibility- Entitlement would be restricted to those applicants who have set up manufacturing/processing units in the country and have made imports of these items in the preceding years when these items were under SIL list.

II. Floor Price-

It is further clarified that these licences shall be subject to the following floor price which shall be endorsed on all licences.

i) For crude or roughly trimmed marble –	US$325 per Metric Tonne (MT);
ii) For rough marble blocks –	US$325 per Metric Tonne (MT); and
iii) For Slabs –	US$ 500 per Metric Tonne (MT)

(Above II has been amended vide P. CIR. NO. 02/2007, DT. 30/07/2007)

[OLD- II. Floor Price - It is further clarified that these licences shall be subject to the following floor price which shall be endorsed on all licences.

i) For crude or roughly trimmed marble-	US$350 per Metric Tonne (MT);
ii) For rough marble blocks-	US$350 per Metric Tonne (MT); and
iii) For Slabs-	US$ 500 per Metric Tonne (MT)

]
III. Entitlement:

The total import of rough marble blocks under Exim Code Nos.25151100, 25151210, 25151220, will be subject to a ceiling of 1.4 lakh MT [OLD-1.85 lakh MT] for this year. This quota has been worked out based on growth in demand for these items in the country and taking into account the unallocated quota of the preceding year, i.e., 2006-07. The entitlement of individual firm for the year 2007-08 will be worked out on the basis of the eligible turnover of the eligible firms for the year 2006-07 i.e. the turnover of the eligible firms for the year 2005-06, or the turnover of these firms for the year 2004-05 with a cap of 10%, whichever is less.

(In above (III) total quantity of import of marble has been amended vide Policy Cir. No. 05/2007, DT. 20/08/2007 for the year 2007-08.)

IV. The last date for receiving applications will be 6th August, 2007.

V. All licences shall be subject to actual user condition.

VI. In this regard Licence holders shall file monthly returns regarding imports made by them to the concerned Regional Licensing Authority.

VII. The eligible applicants may file an application in the form given in Aayaat Niryaat Form together with all relevant documents, to the concerned Regional Authority with a copy to DGFT, HQ, New Delhi. Since the turnover of the eligible firms is not required for the Quota allocation for the year 2007-08, the procedure of forwarding applications through the Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council (CAPEXIL) has been done away with.

VIII. Import of rough marble blocks may be permitted to Hotels (on the recommendation of Ministry of Tourism), places of worship among others, against a licence on need basis. These imports will be subject to the condition that the product manufactured after processing of imported goods, shall also not be allowed for sale.

(Above VIII. has been amended vide POLICY CIR NO. 07/2007, DT. 21/08/2007)

[OLD-
VIII. An additional quota of 10,000 MT may be allocated by the Government to actual users, such as, hotels, places of worship among others. These imports will be subject to the condition that the product manufactured after processing of imported goods shall also not be allowed for sale.]

3. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.

Sd/-
(O.P. Hisaria)
Joint Director General of Foreign Trade

File No.212/38/AM 07/PC-I A

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