Government of India
Ministry of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi – 110 011.

Policy Circular No. 13(RE-08)/2004-2009

Dated 30.06.2008

To

All Licensing Authorities;
All Commissioners of Customs;

Sub : Guidelines for import of Rough Marble Blocks/Slabs for the year 2008-09.

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 2008-09.

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.

2. In addition to the provisions notified vide Policy Circular No. 12 (RE-08) dated 27th June 2008, further applications for import under the above-mentioned Exim Codes will be considered in the following manner: -
   

   1. Eligibility of the units will be decided based on the following two criteria:

      1. Units who have installed marble gang saw machine (except 100% EOU’s, units in SEZ and units who have been granted marble block import licences under previous licensing years or are eligible to avail licence in the current licensing year (2008-09) under SIL category). The units should have been in operation since prior to 31.03.2001.

      2. All eligible units as per (a) above should have indigenous sales turnover of marble slabs/tiles only, of Rs.1.00 Crore (Rupees one Crore only) and above in each of the three financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.

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

      1. For crude or roughly trimmed marble – US$325 per Metric Tonne (MT);

      2. For rough marble blocks – US$325 per Metric Tonne (MT); and

      3. For Slabs – US$ 500 per Metric Tonne (MT)

   3. Entitlement:
      
      The total import of rough marble blocks under Exim Code Nos.25151100, 25151210, 25151220, for this category of units, will be subject to a ceiling of 1.10 lakh MT for this year. Eligible unit will be entitled for an import licence pro rata on the basis of average indigenous sales turnover of marble slabs/tiles only, in the financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07. The quantity so calculated will be subject to the following overall ceiling: -

      1. Unit having one marble gang saw machine will be entitled for a maximum licence of 3,000 MT of marble blocks/slabs.

      2. Units having more than one marble gang saw machine will be entitled for a maximum licence of 3000 MT of marble blocks/slabs for the first gang saw machine and 1500 MT of marble blocks/slabs per additional marble gang saw machine

   4. The last date for receiving applications will be 1st August 2008.

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

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

   7. 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 of DGFT. The eligibility of the applicants with respect to para 2(I) above shall be decided based on verification from the concerned state government. RA concerned would forward the applications of eligible applicants to DGFT, HQ for further consideration.

3. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.

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

(Issued from File No. 01/89/180/Misc-06/AM 08/ PC-I A)