Types of Imported Chemicals
Includes chemicals, reagents, enzymes, oxidizers, corrosive acids, and compressed gases used in scientific research and medical diagnostics.
Importance for Scientific Research
These chemicals are essential for experiments, developing new products, and replicating international research results.
They are often niche and expensive, with local production not meeting the demand.
Ethanol Import
Ethanol is imported, specifically denatured ethanol used in laboratories, while ethanol for alcohol manufacture is generally sourced locally.
Customs Duty Issue
The Finance Ministry initially proposed raising customs duty on these chemicals to 150% from 10%, leading to a significant increase in costs for researchers.
Impact on Researchers
The duty hike would have drastically increased the cost of laboratory chemicals, causing concerns among scientists about the affordability and availability of essential research materials.
Resolution
The duty hike was intended to curb imports of ethanol misclassified as laboratory chemicals.
The duty was eventually reverted to the original rate, but imports now require a certification that the chemicals are used solely for laboratory research and not for commercial purposes.
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