Date:22/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/22/stories/2006112203941703.htm

Business - Briefly

Cap on imports from Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: The Union Government on Tuesday capped the import of vegetable oils, pepper and dry and grated coconut from Sri Lanka to check the flooding of these commodities from the island nation under the Free Trade Agreement. While fixing the quantity of vanaspati, bakery shortening and margarine that can be imported at 2.5 lakh tonnes per year, the Government has also withdrawn NAFED as the canalising agency for such imports. The limit for import of desiccated coconut has been fixed at 500 tonnes annually at a concessional duty of 30 per cent and that for pepper at 2,500 tonnes.