By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : March 06, 2018 8:18 pm
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 spi
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.