The Indian government on Thursday issued a notice imposing immediate restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, and personal computers.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued the notice under HSN8471 with "immediate effect".
The move is likely to hit companies including Apple, Dell and Samsung.As per the current regulations, laptops are imported freely but under the new guideline a special license is required for these products.
According to reports, the move is to push the local manufactured products.
DGFT restricted import of laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers and ultra small form factor computers and servers. "Imports of Laptops, Tablets, All-in-one Personal Computers, and Ultra small form factor Computers and Servers...shall be 'Restricted' and their import would be allowed against a valid Licence for Restricted Imports," read the notice issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce, Government of India.
Imports shall be subject to payment of duty as applicable, it further added.
It also said that it does not bar imports under Baggage rules for the mentioned items.
"Exemption from Import Licencing requirements is provided for Import of All-in-one Personal Computer, or Ultra small form factor Computer, including those purchased from e-commerce portals, through post or courier. Imports shall be subject to payment of duty as applicable," said the notice issued by the government.
Exemption of import licensing is also provided for the said electronics which serve as an essential part of Capital Good, the notification said.
"Given imports shall be allowed subject to condition that the imported goods shall be used for the stated purposes only and will not be sold...after the intended purpose, the products would either be destroyed beyond use or re-exported," state the ministry.
(More details awaited)
