Cir. No.149/60/1995-CX, dt. 13/09/1995

Circular No. 149/60/95-CX dated 13/9/95

Subject: Customs and Central Excise duty on newsprint (including glazed newsprint)

I am directed to invite your attention to notification Nos. 133/95-Cus and 109/95-CE, both dated 31.08.95 which amend notification Nos. 39/94-Cus and 60/88-CE respectively, as a consequence to the change in the import policy on newsprint, which is now under OGL

2. These amendments have the following effect.

3. On the customs side, the exemptions have been made product-specific. Accordingly, newsprint of heading No. 48.01 (i.e. that which satisfies the conditions of Note 3 in chapter 48 of the Customs Tariff) will be fully exempt from basic and additional customs duty without any condition. Earlier, the exemption had a condition that the newsprint should be for printing of newspapers, books and periodicals. This condition has now been removed. Similarly, in the case of certain paper containing atleast 70% mechanical wood pulp content, the exemption earlier had a condition that it should be of a kind used for printing of newspapers, books and periodicals and should fall under Chapter 48. Now, such paper will enjoy the full exemption from basic and additional customs duty if it falls under sub- heading No. 4802.60 without any condition.

4. On the excise side, the earlier exemption to newsprint of heading No. 48.01 was limited to quantities authorised by the Registrar of Newspapers for India for publication of newspaper and a certificate to this effect had also to be produced before the excise department. The term ""newspaper"" was also defined. With the issue of notification No. 109/95-CE, the conditions for availing exemption from excise duty have been changed because with the placement of newsprint under OGL, the Registrar of Newspapers no longer issues Entitlement Certificates for import of standards newsprint (which also served as authorisations for excise duty purposes) to newspapers registered by him. Newsprint of heading No. 48.01, is now exempt if it is manufactured by a newsprint mill registered under Schedule I of the Newspaper Control Order, 1962 and supplied to a newspaper against its purchase order. Newspaper has now been defined to be a newspaper registered by the Registrar of Newspaper for India under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867.

Sd/-
(Rajiv Talwar)
Under Secretary (TRU)

F.No. 354/13/93-TRU