COLOMBO: The spice traders have called for raising the duty of imported pepper from Sri Lanka as the dumping of the spice to Indian domestic market is continuing despite government decision to impose minimum import price of Rs 500 per kg.
The India Pepper and Spice Traders, Growers and Planters Consortium has said that most of the pepper imports from Sri Lanka coming via, Kochi, Chennai and Mundra ports and Bengaluru ICD have been cleared after calculating the lower duty as per South Asia ..nder Safta agreement pepper imports from Sri Lanka are charged only 8% duty. This duty has been considered for MIP of Rs 500 per kg which works out to Rs 40 while purchase prices are much lower, according to the consortium.
“Using MIP for collection of duty while importing at a price level below it totally undermines the purpose of MIP which is to protect the interest of Indian pepper farmers” said Kishor Shamji, coordinator of the consortium.
