PM Meets Ministers and Secretaries on Oxygen Crises, Belated
Decision on Customs Duty and Health Cess Exemption on
Medical Grade Oxygen and Oxygen Equipments for Three
Months
·
Meeting Silent on Drugs Licence on Medical Grade Oxygen under Form 40 Procedure on
DCA
·
Silence also on BIS Licence on Cylinders
·
Online
Google Form for Pre-Intimation for Prompt Clearance of COVID
Items on CBIC Website Released
[MoF
Press Release/24.04.2021]
The Prime Minister chaired a meeting to review
steps taken to boost oxygen availability in the country. The PM emphasized that
there was an immediate need to augment the supply of medical grade oxygen as
well as equipment required for patient care both at home and in hospitals. PM
stressed that all ministries and departments need to work in synergy to
increase availability of oxygen and medical supplies.
PM was briefed that basic customs duty was
exempted on Remdesivir and its API recently. It was suggested that import of equipments
related to providing oxygen to patients needs to be expedited. In order to
augment their production and availability and to meet the rising demand, it was
decided to grant full exemption from Basic Customs Duty and health cess on import of the following items related to Oxygen and
Oxygen related equipment for a period of three months with immediate effect:
1.
Medical grade Oxygen
2.
Oxygen concentrator along
with flow meter, regulator, connectors and tubing
3.
Vacuum Pressure Swing
Absorption (VPSA) and Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plants, Cryogenic
Oxygen Air Separation Units (ASUs) producing liquid/ gaseous oxygen
4.
Oxygen Cannister
5.
Oxygen Filling Systems
6.
Oxygen Storage tanks,
Oxygen cylinders including cryogenic cylinders and tanks
7.
Oxygen Generators
8.
ISO Containers for
Shipping Oxygen
9.
Cryogenic Road transport
tanks for Oxygen
10.
Parts of the above to be
used for the manufacture of equipment for production, transportation,
distribution or storage of Oxygen
11.
Any other device from
which Oxygen can be generated
12.
Ventilators (capable of
functioning as high-flow devices) with nasal canula;
Compressors including all accessories and tubing; humidifiers and Viral filters
13.
High flow nasal canula device with all attachments
14.
Helmets for use with
non-invasive ventilation
15.
Non-invasive ventilation oronasal masks for ICU ventilators
16.
Non-invasive ventilation
nasal masks for ICU ventilators
Apart from the above, it was also decided that
Basic Customs Duty on import of Covid vaccines be
also exempted with immediate effect for a period of 3 months.
This will boost availability of these items as
well as make them cheaper. The PM directed the Revenue Department to ensure
seamless and quick custom clearance of such equipment. Accordingly, the
Department of Revenue has nominated Gaurav Masaldan,
Joint Secretary, Customs, as the nodal officer for
issues related to customs clearance for the above-mentioned items.
The Government of India has taken a lot of
measures in the last few days to improve supply of oxygen and medical supplies.
IAF planes are bringing in cryogenic oxygen tanks from Singapore. IAF is also
transporting oxygen tanks in the country to reduce travel times. Similarly, in
a major decision yesterday, free food grains will be given 80 crore Indians for
the month of May & June 2021.
Finance Minister, Commerce and Industry
Minister, Health Minister, Principal Secretary to the PM, Member NITI Aayog, Dr Guleria
and Secretaries of the department of Revenue, Health and DPIIT & other
officials participated in the meeting.
In order to provide
expedited customs clearance to any covid related
medicaments or equipments, Trade is
advised to kindly provide details in the online form.