EPCG in 1997-2002 Policy – 10% Duty

A notification was issued on 01 April, 1997 in the light of new Exim Policy 1997-2002 for EPCG Scheme and Advance Licence. Essentially the duty on EPCG import has been reduced to 10 percent from 15 percent.

Ntfn 28         In exercise of the powers             10    0   10
01.04.97       conferred by sub-section
                     (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Government, being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts goods as specified in the Table annexed hereto from so much of the duty of customs leviable thereon which is specified in the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) as is in excess of the amount calculated at the rate of 10% ad valorem and from whole of the additional duty leviable thereon under section 3 of the said Customs Tariff Act, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(1) The goods imported are covered by a valid licence issued under the Export Promotion Capital Goods (E.P.C.G.) Scheme in terms of Export and Import Policy (hereinafter referred to as the said policy) permitting import on payment of duty of customs at the rate of 10% and the said licence is produced for debit by the proper officer of the customs at the time of clearance:

Provided that for the import of spare parts, the validity period of the licence shall be deemed to be the period permitted for fulfillment of the export obligation in full.

(2) The importer executes a bond in such form and for such sum and with such surety or security as may be specified by the Assistant Commissioner of Customs binding himself to fulfill export obligation equivalent to four times the CIF value of the goods imported or for such higher sum as may be fixed by the Licensing Authority within a period of five years from the date of issue of the said licence in the following proportions:-

SNo.

Period from the date of issue of licence

Proportion of total export obligation

1.

1st Year

Nil

2.

2nd Year

10%

3.

3rd Year

20%

4.

4th Year

30%

5.

5th Year

40%

"Provided that where a sick unit notified by the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction is subsequently taken over by another unit for revival, the export obligation may be fulfilled within a period of 12 year from the date of issue of said licence, [Amended by 14/21.01.03]

Provided further that export obligation of a particular year may be set off by the excess exports made in the preceding years.

(3) The importer produce within thirty days of the expiry of each year from the date of issue of licence from 2nd year or within such extended period as the Assistant Commissioner of Customs may allow, evidence to the satisfaction of the Assistant Commissioner of Customs showing the extent of export obligation fulfilled, and where export obligation of any particular year is not fulfilled in terms of the preceding condition, the importer shall within three months from the expiry of the said year pay an amount equal to that portion of the duty leviable on the goods but for the exemption contained herein which bears the same proportion as the unfulfilled portion of the export obligation bears to the total export obligation together with interest at the rate of 15% per annum from the date of clearance of the goods.

(4) The importer shall, if he fails to discharge a minimum of 25% of the export obligation prescribed for any particular year, for three consecutive years, be liable to pay forthwith the whole of the duty of customs leviable on the goods imported but for the exemption contain in this notification together with interest at the rate of 15% per annum from the date of clearance of the goods; [Amended by 113/16.10.2002]

(5) The capital goods imported, assembled or manufactured are installed in the importer’s factory or premises and a certificate from the jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or independent Chartered Engineer, as the case may be, is produced confirming installation and use of capital goods in the importer’s factory or premises, within six months from the date of completion of imports or within such extended period as the said Assistant Commissioner of Customs may allow. [Substituted by 42/30.06.98]

Provided that in case of -

(i)    manufacturer exporter and merchant exporter having supporting manufacturer(s)/vendor(s),

(ii)   import of irrigation equipment for use in contract farming for export of agriculture products, and

(iii)  importer rendering services,

        the capital goods may be installed at the factory/premises of such other person whose name and address are endorsed on the license referred to in condition

        (1) and where the bond for full difference of duty, if necessary, in terms of condition

        (2) with a bank guarantee is executed by the importer and such other person binding themselves jointly or severally to fulfill the export obligation and all other conditions of this notification and to pay duty with interest in case of default; [Amended by 52/28.04.2000].

Provided further that in case of importers rendering services not required to be registered with Central Excise authorities, a certificate from independent Chartered Engineer confirming the installation and use of capital goods in the importer’s premises may be produced.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in conditions (3) and (4), where the Licensing Authority grants extension of year-wise period for any year(s) or overall period of fulfilment of export obligation upto a period of two years or regularisation of shortfall in export obligation not exceeding 5 per cent of such export obligation, the said year-wise period or overall period of export obligation may be extended and the said shortfall in export obligation be condoned by the Assistant Commissioner of Customs or Deputy Commissioner of Customs. [Substituted by 49/24.04.2002]

"Provided that inrespect of licence having overall export obligation period of 12 year, further extension of overall export obligation period shall not be allowed." [Amended by 14/21.01.03]

Provided that extension of year wise period of export obligation shall not be allowed more than once and more than a period of one year with a period of five years.

2. Where the goods are found defective or unfit for use, the said good may be re-exported back to the foreign supplier within 3 years from the date of payment of duty on the importation thereof.

Provided that at the time of re-export the goods are identified to the satisfaction of the Assistant Commissioner of Customs or Deputy Commissioner of Customs as the goods which were imported. [Inserted by 52/28.04.2000]

SNo.

Description of goods

1.

Capital goods.

2.

Capital goods in SKD/CKD condition to be assembled into capital goods by the importer.

3.

Components of capital goods required for assembly or manufacture of capital goods by the importer.

4.

Spare parts including Jigs, Fixtures, Dies, Moulds not exceeding 20% of the value of goods specified at serial Nos. 1, 2 and 3 actually imported and required for maintenance of the capital goods so imported, assembled, or manufactured. [Amended by 08/23.04.98]

Explanation: - In this notification,-

(i) “Capital goods” means any plant, machinery, equipment and accessories required for-

(a) manufacture or production of other goods, including packaging machinery and equipments refractories, refrigeration equipment, power generating sets, machine tools, catalysts for initial charge, and equipment and instruments for testing, research and development, quality and pollution control;

(b) use in manufacturing, mining, agriculture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, floriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, poultry viticulture and sericulture;

(c) rendering services;

(ii) “Export and Import Policy” means the Export and Import Policy April, 1997 - March, 2002 published vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce No.1/1997-2002, dated the 31st March, 1997.

(iii) “Licensing Authority” means the Director General, Foreign Trade appointed under section 6 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 (22 of 1992) or an officer authorised by him to grant a licence under the said Act;

(iv) “export obligation”-

(a) in relation to importers other than those rendering services, means export to a place outside India of products manufactured with the use of capital goods imported, assembled or manufactured in terms of this notification or making of supplies of such products in terms of clauses (a), (b) (d), (e), (f) and (g) of paragraph 10.2 of the Export and Import Policy;

(b) in relation to importers rendering services, means receiving payments in freely convertible foreign currency for services rendered through the use of such capital goods; and

(c) means, export of goods in terms of the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce) No 28 (RE-2003)/2002-2007 dated 28th January 2004. [Sub-clause (iv)(c) inserted by 29/28.01.2004]

Notification History: Original No/date: 28/01.04.97

Amended by 08/23.04.98. Spare parts at Sl no 4 of table upto 20 percent of the value of capital goods at Sl no 1-3 in the table allowed.; 33/09.06.98; 42/30.06.98; 14/21.1.03;113/16.10.02; 49/24.4.02; 14/21.1.03;

75/09.10.98 – Capital goods including jigs, fixture, dies and moulds have been omitted from the EPCG scheme concessional duty notifications. The concession is applicable only on spares import; 56/11.05.99; 52/28.04.2000; 29/28.01.2004