Tag: Import Policy Order 2020

  • Ministry imposes ban on import of conventional syringes

    Ministry imposes ban on import of conventional syringes

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce on Friday imposed ban on import of conventional syringes with immediate as the government had already granted incentives on import of auto disable syringes through latest amendment to relevant laws.

    The ministry of commerce issued SRO 483(I)/2021 dated April 16, 2021 to amend Import Policy Order, 2020.

    Through the notification a ban has been imposed on import of conventional syringes including 2 ml, 2.5 ml, 3 ml and 5 ml.

    Prior to this through Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, the government had allowed sales tax exemption on import of auto disable syringes including with needles and without needles.

    Further, the import of raw materials for the manufacturers of auto disable syringes was also granted sales tax exemption.

  • Import policy amended to allow radiation apparatus

    Import policy amended to allow radiation apparatus

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has amended the Import Policy Order 2020 and allowed the import of radiation apparatus with a condition of prior approval of Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority.

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  • 66 percent shelf life mandatory for import of edible products

    66 percent shelf life mandatory for import of edible products

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has allowed import of all edible products with meeting certain condition such as those products have at least 66 percent shelf life remaining from the date of manufacturing.

    The ministry issued SRO 902(I)/2020 dated September 25, 2020 to unveil Import Policy Order 2020.

    The ministry said all edible products are allowed but those subject to following conditions:

    (i) It must be fit for human consumption;

    (ii) They shall be free of any ‘haram’ element or ingredients;

    (iii) Edible products shall have at least 66% (2/3rd) shelf life, remaining from the date of manufacturing;

    (iii a) The ingredients and details of the product (e.g. nutritional facts, usage instructions etc.) of food products are printed in Urdu and English languages on the consumer packaging;

    (iii b) The logo of the Halal certification body is printed on the consumer packaging;

    (iii c) The labeling under clauses (iii a) & (iii b) above shall not be in the form of a sticker, overprinting, stamp or scratched labeling;

    (iii d) The shipment is accompanied by a ’Halal certificate’ issued by a Halal Certification Body, accredited with an Accrediting Body (AB) which is a member of International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) or Standard Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC);

    (iv) Clause (iii-d) shall take effect from the 1st day of May, 2020.

    (v) That, in case of meat, it was obtained from ‘halal animals and slaughtered in accordance with the Islamic injunctions;

    (vi) Import of edible oil in bulk quantity shall be on landed weight and quality basis.

  • Temporary import allowed against bank guarantee under policy order

    Temporary import allowed against bank guarantee under policy order

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has said that temporary import-cum-export of goods is allowed by the respective collectors of customs against submission of indemnity bond or bank guarantee to the satisfaction of customs authorities.

    The ministry issued Import Policy Order, 2020 through SRO 902(I)/2020 dated September 25, 2020 and explained the temporary import as: temporary import-cum-export of goods in respect of the following shall be allowed by the respective Collectors of Customs against submission of indemnity bond or bank guarantee to the satisfaction of custom authorities to ensure re-export of the same within the specified period, namely: –

    (a) construction companies or firms or oil and gas companies, oil exploration and production companies, mining companies, their authorized or approved contractors, sub-contractors and service companies, and refineries shall be allowed to import all plant, machinery and equipment including specialized machinery whether new or used except second-hand or used passenger vehicles, trucks, buses and static road rollers of 10-12 tons capacity, 55HP. Certification of the Chief Executive of a company of the respective sector-endorsing requirement of the contractor, sub-contractor or service companies shall be required:

    Provided that permanent retention of all permissible categories of machinery or equipment imported on temporary basis by construction companies shall be allowed by the Federal Board of Revenue subject to payment of all duties and taxes to be assessed by the Customs under relevant laws;

    (b) airlines and shipping lines shall be allowed to import items on import cum export basis except those mentioned in Appendix-A, B and C, unless specifically allowed under this Order;

    (c) any goods manifested for a country outside Pakistan, which are bonded in Pakistan for re-export to that country;

    (d) any good imported and bonded for re-export as ship stores to a country outside Pakistan without requirement of furnishing indemnity bond or bank guarantee;

    (e) exhibition materials for fairs and exhibitions officially organized by the Government or Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry or Chambers of Commerce and Industry shall be allowed to import items except mentioned in Appendix-A, B and C except where specifically allowed under this Order. However, giveaways, sale on payment of leviable duties, donations and wastages etc., shall be allowed:

    Provided that all-Pakistan based associations and individual companies shall also be allowed to import exhibition materials for fairs and exhibitions except those mentioned in Appendix-A, B and C subject to endorsement by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan;

    (f) any goods except those specified in Appendix A, B and C for demonstration, display, test or trial purpose for a limited period;

    (g) second-hand tools and professional equipment imported by scientists, information technology experts, doctors, technicians, engineers etc., either imported in their own name or in the name of the company in Pakistan for which these are imported;

    (h) excavation equipment and materials imported by foreign archeological missions;

    (i) scientific and educational equipment imported for scientific educational, or cultural seminars in Pakistan on the recommendation of the concerned Ministry;

    (j) equipment and materials imported by Pakistani as well as foreign nationals such as journalists, press photographers, members of television teams, broadcasting units, film companies, theater and circus companies, for their professional requirement, subject to endorsement on their passports;

    (k) shipping containers for transportation of cargo;

    (l) trucks and cargo transport vehicles registered in foreign countries carrying imported cargo through border customs stations, provided that there is a bilateral or multilateral agreement on reciprocity basis between Pakistan and the foreign country to which those vehicles belong;

    (m) import of engineering goods, carpets, sports goods, surgical instruments etc., into Pakistan shall be allowed to the existing industry for the purpose of repairing in Pakistan and subsequent re-export, subject to submission of indemnity bond or bank guarantee to the customs authorities to ensure re-export of the same within the specified period;

    (n) Pakistani exporters are allowed to re-import exported goods for the purpose of removing defects by way of repairing during the warranty period provided in the sales contracts against submission of indemnity bond to the satisfaction of the concerned Collector of Customs;

    (o) import of goods including means of transport, excluding those mentioned in Appendix-A, B and C, shall be allowed under ATA Carnet (Istanbul Convention 1990) upon furnishing of temporary admission papers (Carnet etc.) as due security;

    (p) import of goods including means of transport excluding those mentioned in Appendix-A, B and C, shall be allowed under TIR Convention subject to fulfillment of all prescribed conditions;

    (q) mountaineering expeditions shall be allowed to import their equipment and materials on import-cum-export basis. In case, the equipment and material are not re-exported, they may donate such equipment and material to local mountaineering clubs and produce a certificate to the Customs from a mountaineering club to the effect that the equipment and material imported on import-cum-export basis has been donated to that club; and

    (r) temporary import-cum-export of arms and ammunition by foreign hunters shall be allowed subject to NOC from the Ministry of Interior.

  • Policy for import of bullet proof vehicles unveiled

    Policy for import of bullet proof vehicles unveiled

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has unveiled policy for import of bullet proof vehicles both in new and used condition.

    The ministry issued SRO 902(I)/2020 dated September 25, 2020 to notify Import Policy Order, 2020 and explained the requirement for import of bullet proof vehicles.

    The bullet proof vehicles are importable on the recommendation of Ministry of Interior subject to following conditions:

    (i) Requests for import of bullet proof vehicles are routed through concerned Provincial Government, which will determine the genuineness of the requirements of the applicant;

    (ii) The applicant will clearly indicate the features of the vehicle proposed to be imported by him;

    (iii) Undertaking be obtained from the applicant that he will ply the vehicle only in high security risk areas; and

    (iv) The vehicle will only be disposed of after obtaining NOC from Ministry of Interior.

    (v) The same conditions and procedures mentioned above shall apply mutatis mutandis, if bullet proof vehicles are imported under Personal Baggage, gift and Transfer of Residence Schemes.

  • List of companies for pre-shipment inspection under import policy

    List of companies for pre-shipment inspection under import policy

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has issued list of companies for pre-shipment inspection as envisaged in different provisions of Import Policy Order, 2020 shall be done in the exporting country.

    The ministry issued SRO 902(I)/2020 dated September 25, 2020 to notify the Import Policy Order 2020.

    Following are the name of the companies under Appendix-H of the Import Policy Order 2020:

    a. Messrs Lloyds of London;

    b. Messrs Quality Tech, LLC;

    c. Messrs ABS;

    d. Bureau Veritas;

    e. Messrs SGS; and

    f. Messrs IMTECH

    The pre-shipment inspection companies as approved by Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) for the inspection of solar equipment (including but not limited to solar PV systems, off-grids /standalone solar PV systems, solar PV kits, solar PV panels, solar PV cells, inverters, charge controllers, balance of system components for PV systems, Low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies, power converters for use in PV power systems, insulated cables for use in PV systems, solar pumping systems for liquids, solar water heaters with accessories, solar stoves/cookers/ranges, etc. and parts thereof).

    Through Appendix-O the ministry also issued list of pre-shipment inspection following agencies:

    1. Baltic Control Pakistan, Suite No. 419, 4th Floor, The Cotton Exchange Building, II Chandigarh Road, Karachi on behalf of Baltic Control Ltd; Aarhus, Denmark.
    2. NMCI Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd; Suite # 105, Khurshid Fancy, Jamaluddin Afghani Road, SharfabadChowk, Karachi on behalf of NMCI, USA.
    3. Inspectorates Corporation International (Pvt.) Ltd., A-53, Plot No. 26, St. 4, Nisar Road, Lahore Cantt, Lahore on behalf of Control Union, Germany.
    4. Inspectorates Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., 1st Floor, Lason Square Building No. 1, Sabir Beg Shaheed Road, Karachi on behalf of Coteena Group of Companies, Switzerland.
    5. M/s Control Union Pakistan (PVT) LTD, suit no 202.A, second floor, cotton exchange building, I.I Chundregarh Road, Karachi on behalf of Control Union Group of Companies, Netherland.
  • Ministry issues procedure for imports under personal baggage, transfer of residence, gift scheme

    Ministry issues procedure for imports under personal baggage, transfer of residence, gift scheme

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce and issued procedure for imports and customs clearance under schemes including personal baggage, gift and transfer of residence.

    The ministry of commerce issued SRO 902(I)/2020 dated September 25, 2020 and notified Import Policy Order 2020 while repealing the previous Import Policy Order, 2016.

    The ministry through the policy order issued procedure for import under personal baggage, gift scheme and transfer of residence schemes.

    Procedure for import

    (1) Personal baggage: Filing of Goods Declaration under section 79 of the Customs Act, 1969 accompanied with the following documents namely:

    a) Purchase receipt;

    b) Bill of Lading dated not later than 120 days from the date of arrival in Pakistan of the applicant; and

    c) Attested photocopy of passport or Pakistan Origin Card (original passport or Pakistan Origin Card required .to be checked by customs at the time of clearance)

    (2) Gift Scheme: Filing of Goods Declaration under section 79 of the Customs Act, 1969 accompanied with the following documents namely;-

    a) NIC of donee;

    b) Purchase receipt;

    c) Bill of Lading (showing name and address of consignee);

    d) Attested photocopy of passport or Pakistan Origin Card; and

    (3) Transfer of Residence: Filing of Goods Declaration under section 79 of the Customs Act, 1969 accompanied with the following documents namely;-

    a) Purchase receipt;

    b) Attested photocopy of passport or Pakistan Origin Card (original passport or Pakistan Origin Card may be required to be checked by the customs at the time of clearance);

    c) Bill of Lading (dated not later than 120 days from the date of arrival of applicant.

  • Policy to import used/old cars under various schemes unveiled

    Policy to import used/old cars under various schemes unveiled

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has unveiled the policy to import new and old/used cars under Import Policy Order, 2020. The ministry issued SRO 902(I)/2020 dated September 25, 2020 to notify the Import Policy Order, 2020 and explain the policy to import motor cars under various schemes.

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  • Policy issued for import of petroleum products

    Policy issued for import of petroleum products

    ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce has issued policy for import of petroleum products through under the new Import Policy Order, 2020.

    The ministry issued SRO 902(I)/2020 dated September 25, 2020 to notify the import policy order.

    01. Under the policy, petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals crude shall only be importable by oil refineries.

    02. Motor spirit including aviation spirit, kerosene, including kerosene type jet fuel (JP-1, JP-4), other medium oils and preparations/light diesel oil, gas oils/high speed diesel oil and other fuel oils shall be importable by approved oil marketing companies.

    Provided that oil refineries shall be allowed to import higher octane products (95/97 RON) for blending purposes only.

    03. Furnace oil shall be importable by oil marketing companies, WAPDA, KESC, IPPs and industrial consumers for self-consumption:-Provided that furnace oil shall be importable by commercial importers subject to clearance from Oil Companies’ Advisory Committee (OCAC) of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Government of Pakistan.

    04. For finished lubricants, the import of automotive engine oils of quality level (API) SC/CC and above and automotive gear oils of (API) GL-4 and above shall be imported by commercial importers, lubricants blending companies, lube/oil marketing companies and refineries having valid registration with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) under the rules.

    05. Residues of petroleum oils shall be importable by industrial manufacturers only subject to NOC from the Ministry of Climate Change.

  • Import Policy Order 2020: Goods from India, Israel remain on banned list

    Import Policy Order 2020: Goods from India, Israel remain on banned list

    ISLAMABAD: Goods from India and Israel shall remain on the banned list for import into Pakistan, according to Import Policy Order, 2020 issued by the ministry of commerce.

    The ministry issued SRO 902(I)/2020 to notify the updated policy for the goods to be imported into Pakistan.

    According to the policy order following are banned, namely:

    (a) goods of Indian or Israeli origin or imported from India or Israel:

    Provided that the provisions of this clause to the extent of India shall not apply to therapeutic products regulated by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

    (b) import of live animals, i.e. cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats and meat & bone meal (MBM) and feed ingredients of animal origin are banned from countries classified by the Word Organization of Animal Health (OIE) in the latest edition of Terrestrial Animal Health Code as Controlled Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Risk and Undetermined BSE Risk.

    (c) counterfeit products; and

    (d) import of all rough diamonds from, ‘Cote’d Ivoire’.