Diplomats can Transfer Duty Free Vehicles to Non Diplomats

[DGFT Notification No. 39 dated 31st March 2011]

Subject: Import policy of Vehicles.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 read with Para 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-2014, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in the Schedule 1 (Imports) of the ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items :

2. Existing policy (prior to this amendment) as available at page 709-710, Chapter 87 of ITC(HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items is extracted below :

Import Licensing Notes:

(4) The import of vehicles (as classified under this Chapter) by Foreign Diplomats and Other Privileged Persons in this category, who are exempt from payment of customs duty, shall be exempt from the conditions specified at Sl.No.1 & 2 above. However, such imported vehicles cannot be sold in India except to another diplomat or privileged person and are compulsorily required to be re-exported.

3. After amendment the entry would read as below:

Import Licensing Notes:

(4) The import of vehicles (as classified under this Chapter) by Foreign Diplomats and Other Privileged Persons in this category, who are exempt from payment of customs duty, shall be exempt from the conditions specified at Sl.No.1 & 2 above. Such imported vehicles shall be disposed off in the manner specified in the Foreign Privileged Persons (Regulation of Customs Privileges) Rules, 1957, as amended from time to time

4. The effect of this Notification:-

The sale of vehicles imported by Foreign Diplomats and Other Privileged Persons is now permitted to other non privileged persons also in the manner specified in Foreign Privileged Persons (Regulation of Customs Privileges) Rules, 1957, as amended.