The Indian chemical industry has expressed concern over dumping of several products like Saccharin, Chlorine Chloride and Sodium Tripoly Phosphate originating in or exported from China.

The All India Saccharin Manufacturers Association along with manufacturers of Chlorine Chloride and Sodium Tripoly Phosphate had approached the Commerce Ministry seeking relief in this regard.

In its petition, the All India Saccharin Manufacturers Association had sought sunset review of the anti-dumping duty imposed on the imports of saccharin originating in or exported from China.

Saccharin is a non-nutritive sweetener and considered to be low calorie substitute for cane sugar. It is used in a variety of industry such as food and beverage, personal care products, table top sweeteners, electroplating brighteners, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Saccharin is classified under Chapter 29 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 under sub-headings No 29251100. The Custom classification is indicative only and not binding on the scope of investigations.

The domestic industry has claimed that the goods produced by them are '''like articles''' to the goods originating in or exported from subject country. The domestic industry is producing Saccharin in all its forms. Material produced by domestic industry and imported from China are comparable in physical form and chemical composition. Saccharin imported from China and produced by the domestic industry are technically and commercially substitutable.

The domestic industry has also claimed that for manufacturing of Saccharin, Chinese producer follows a different process for production of Saccharin whereas the Indian producers follow sodium dichromate route, however, there is no difference in the final product.

Similar petitions for sunset review were received by the Ministry regarding dumping of Chlorine Chloride from China and the EU and Sodium Tripoly Phosphate from China.

In view of these petitions, the Commerce Ministry requested the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) to look into the matter and provide names and detailed addresses of the producers of Saccharin, Chlorine Chloride and Sodium Tripoly Phosphate in India along with their production and sales data.

The DCPC has asked the Indian Chemical Council to provide details at the earliest in this regard to be submitted to the Commerce Ministry.