GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADE

Policy Circular No. 1 (RE-2006)/ 2004-09                            Dated, the 7^th April, 2006

To,

         All Licensing Authorities,

         All Customs Authorities,

Subject :  Import of Sandal Wood.

         Attention is invited to Exim Code No. 44039922 of the ITC (HS) Classification of Export and Import  Items, 2004-09 (Schedule I).

2.       Import of Sandal Wood under Exim Code No. 44039922 will be restricted and subject to a ceiling of 5,000 cum in each licensing year.  Imports will be permitted only against an Import License issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.  The Import License shall be issued in consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Forest.  The ceiling of Sandal Wood for each financial year will be monitored by the Ministry of Environment and Forest to ensure that it is not exceeded.  The license will be valid for a period of one year from the date of issue.  No further revalidation of such license shall be allowed. 

3.          The following procedure will be followed for obtaining an Import License :

(i)      Applicant will submit their application in the Aayaat Niryaat Form to the DGFT (Headquarters office), Udyog Bhawan,  New Delhi – 110 011. 

(ii)     The applicant will be required to submit the following documents along with their applications (in addition to those prescribed in the Aayaat Niryaat Form):

(i)            The ‘Certificate of Origin’ from the exporting country.

(ii)          The necessary phyto-sanitary certificate.

Quantity of sandalwood and their specifications to be imported species-wise, quantity-wise and the country from which it is to be imported.

(iii)         The purpose of import must be specified.  If the importer is having sandalwood – based unit, it must be legally established and registered with the concerned State / UT Forest Department.

(iv)         In case the importer is a trader not having his own sandalwood based unit, the past performance and antecedents may be given for necessary verification.

(v)           Utilisation Certificate specifying the details and necessary ‘Transit Permit’ regarding the earlier import must be specified by the applicant for seeking permission for import of sandalwood second time.

4.              Applications for issuance of license would be considered by the Exim Facilitation Committee on merits and shall be subject to such conditions which the Committee may specify.

5.               This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

Sd/-

(Pratima Dikshit)

Joint Director General of Foreign Trade

(F.No. 01/89/180/Misc.75/AM06/PC-IA)