The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) has now sought the intervention of the External Affairs Ministry for lifting of restrictions on import of toluene from Italy.

In a letter to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), ICC said that in spite of the latter taking up the issue with appropriate authorities, the matter is yet to be solved.

"This issue still remains unresolved. Affected industry continues to face the difficulties in importing toluene from Italy," it said.

?Kindly take up the matter now with the Ministry of External Affairs. They can then take up this issue with the Italian government for simplification of procedural requirement for import of toluene from Italy,? the ICC requested.

According to the ICC, India?s consumption of toluene is 3 lakh tonnes per annum. But the country produces only 1.6 lakh tonnes of toluene and therefore the remaining 1.4 tonnes have to be imported every year. Italy is a major producer of petrochemicals and Italian company Polimeri Europa is a major exporter of toluene. India?s consumption is expected to go up to about 4.75 lakh tonnes per year in 2014-15 and since there are no major expansion plans announced so far, India would depend on toluene imports.

The DCPC had approached the Commerce Ministry for lifting of restrictions on import of toluene from Italy.

"It is to mention here that exporters of toluene from Italy require export licence appended therewith corresponding import licence from Indian authorities. As per our policy, export-import of toluene is free and licence or permission is not required. The issue may be resolved being of non-tariff barrier type and it may be taken up with Italian authorities in appropriate bilateral form," the DCPC had told the Commerce Ministry.