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

Policy Circular No. 35(RE-08)/2004-2009
Dated 10.10.2008

To
All Licensing Authorities;
All Commissioners of Customs;

Sub : Guidelines for import of Rough / unprocessed Blocks and Slabs of agglomerated / artificial stones for the year 2008-09.

1. Attention is invited to EXIM Code Nos. 6810 1110, 6810 1190, 68101910,6810 1990, 6810 9100, 6810 9910 and 6810 9990 indicated in Schedule-1 (imports) of ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items, 2004-2009. As per the provisions contained therein, import of Rough / unprocessed Blocks and Slabs of agglomerated / artificial stones is restricted and subject to import licensing procedures.
   
   
2. In addition to the quantity and eligibility notified under provisions of Policy Circular No. 34(RE-08) dated 10th October 2008, further applications for import under the above-mentioned Exim Codes will be considered in the following manner:
   1.  Eligibility-
      
      Entitlement would be restricted to those applicants who have set up manufacturing/ processing units in the country and have made imports of rough marble blocks / slabs classified under Chapter 25 of ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items, 2004-09, in the preceding years when these items were under SIL list.
      
      
   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:
      
      i) For Rough / unprocessed Blocks of agglomerated / artificial stones– US$300 per Metric Tonne (MT) for goods of Chinese origin and $400 per Metric Tonne for others- cif; and
      ii) For Rough / unprocessed Slabs of agglomerated / artificial stones – US$22 per square meter for goods of Chinese origin and $ 28 per square meter for others- cif;
      
      
      
   3. Entitlement:
      
      The total import of Rough / unprocessed Blocks and Slabs of agglomerated / artificial stones under Exim Code Nos. 6810 1110, 6810 1190, 68101910,6810 1990, 6810 9100, 6810 9910 and 6810 9990 will be subject to a ceiling of 60,000 ( sixty thousand) MT for this year. The entitlement of individual firm for the year 2008-09 will be worked out on the basis of the eligible turnover of the eligible firms for the year 2006-07. Eligible turnover of the units shall be decided in the same manner as is for considering licenses for import of rough marble blocks / slabs. Turnover of the firms for the relevant years has to be certified by Chartered accountant. Allocation of entitlement of the item shall be restricted among those applicants who have a turnover of more than 5 crores in the year 2006-07. Units having a turnover of more than Rupees 50 crore shall be considered after capping their turnover at Rs. 50 Crores.
      
      
      
   4. The last date for receiving applications will be 16th October, 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 with a copy to DGFT, HQ, New Delhi.
      
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)