Curbs on 715 items go from today

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 31. Coconuts, fruits and vegetables, poultry and meat cuts, butter, ghee, cheese, oranges, white and red wines as well as stronger spirits like rum, vodka etc., natural rubber latex, several textile items, kitchen-ware, TV and cassette players, yachts and boats are among the items that can be freely imported from tomorrow with the lifting of quantitative restrictions on 715 items.

Some commodities in which India is a major force in the overseas markets would also face the pressure of competition. These include tea, both black and green, in packets not exceedings 20 kg, unroasted coffee of different varieties, refined and crude coconut oils

The lifting of QRs could prove to be a windfall for the fashion conscious with the Exim Policy allowing unlimited imports of over 200 textile-related items. Men's windcheaters, ties, track suits, jackets, blazers and trousers, women's suits, skirts, trousers and lingerie will be freely importable.

The policy also allows housewives to sample foreign offerings such as bed linen, floor cloth, food mixers, electric irons, coffee makers, tosters, pressure cookers and kitchen linen. They will also get to choose foreign-made day-to-day items such as tooth brushes, combs, pens, shaving brushes sanitary wares, bulbs, clocks and toys. Connoisseurs of non-vegetarian dishes too would no longer have their options limited to local produce. The Government has allowed unrestricted imports of chilled meat of lamb, chicken, turkey and ham but restrictions would be there on other meat of protected species.

In addition, butter, milk food for babies, egg yolk, cheese, processed as well as fresh, coconuts, potatoes and betel nuts are also out of the QR list.

Continuing with food items, the Exim Policy has also deleted wheat for human consumption, basmati and various other varieties of rice including rice (parboiled), husk brown rice and broken rice can also be imported freely. However, restrictions durum wheat, grains sorgum, buckwheat other than seed quality, jawar, bajra, ragi, canary seeds and other cereals, rye, meslin and oats remain.

Import of items like wheat, rice, maize, petrol, diesel, ATF and urea would be permitted only through the designated state trading enterprises which would be functioning on commercial principles in accordance with Article XVII of GATT. ``The removal of QRs does not mean throwing the gates wide open. As a sovereign nation we are obliged to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and safeguard our bio-security concerns as long as we ensure national treatment,'' explained the Commerce Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran.

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