The Government has notified the exemption of Black Fungus Medicine ‘Amphotericin B’ from Customs Duty.
In line with decisions taken in a high level meeting taken by PM, Notification No. 28/2021-Customs dated April 24, 2021 issued exempting Customs duty on medical grade Oxygen, Oxygen related equipment and COVID-19 vaccines till July 31, 2021.
The Central Government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, notified the amendments in the notification of the Government of India, in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 28/2021-Customs, dated the 24th April, 2021 which inserts the word Amphotericin B in the Table, after S.No. 18.
The Notification No. 28/2021-Customs, dated the 24th April, 2021 was in force up to and inclusive of the 31st July, 2021, however, now it has been extended till 31st August, 2021.
Last week, the Delhi High Court allowed duty free import of Amphotericin B, used for treating black fungus patients, primarily those affected by it after recovering from Covid-19, on furnishing of a bond by the importers till the Centre takes a final decision on waiving the customs duty on it. “The gap is widening by the hour. It has to be done on war footing. Please understand that fight. Every hour counts,” it said.
The court said that the medicine is required to save the lives of thousands of people suffering from Mucormycosis and the central government should seriously consider waiver of customs duty till the drug is in short supply in India. “The bond shall have the undertaking that in case the import duty is not waived, the duty shall be paid by the importer,” a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said.
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