On Thursday, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the import policy of major paper products had been amended from ‘free’ to ‘free’ subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification on May 25.

“This order will apply to various paper products, such as newsprint, handmade paper, wallpaper base, duplicating paper, coated paper, uncoated paper, Litho and offset paper, tissue paper, parchment paper, carbon paper, wallpaper, envelopes, and toys”, “Account books, labels, bobbins, etc.,” the ministry said in a statement.

After October 1, 2022, all imports will be governed by this policy, it says. Paper products such as currency paper, bank bonds and check paper, security printing paper etc., are excluded from this policy change.

The domestic paper industry has been raising issues of dumping paper products in the domestic market through under-invoicing, entry of prohibited products through misrepresentation, and re-routing goods through other countries instead of trade agreements. A large portion of paper products is imported under the “Other” category tariff line. The move will also go a long way in promoting Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat in this category.

A user-friendly interface has been developed to implement the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS). Any importer can get an automated registration number online by paying a registration fee of Rs 500.

Not earlier than the 75th day for importer registration and not later than the 5th day of an expected date of import shipment. The automatic registration number thus provided will be valid for 75 days. Multiple Bills of Entry will be approved on the same registration number during the validity period of registration for the approved amount. The online registration facility will be available from July 15 2022.