Free Import of Antiques – DGFT Government amends Policy
The Government has amended the Import policy for Antiques of an age exceeding hundred years and antiquarian books to make it free . It was hitherto under the restricted category.
An alert Netizen immediately asked us, “ It was good to hear that the DGFT had allowed free imports of antiques of an age exceeding hundred years and antiquarian books . Now, who decides what the age of the “Antique” is? Should the importer get a certificate from an accredited agency which conducts C-14/Carbon dating and will the Customs/DGFT authorities be satisfied with the same?” And why should the DGFT prescribe the minimum age of hundred years so as to consider an article “Antique”.
Now it was not DGFT which prescribed the hundred years limit. The Customs Tariff heading 9706 00 00 reads as Antiques of an age exceeding one hundred years. And DGFT has simply imported this Customs Tariff entry into the Import Schedule.
But what is the sudden provocation to make the imports of these antiques free? Is it an election antic? Any relation to Tipu Sultan's sword which was imported by Vijay Mallya, which he could not have legally done? He exported it after Customs started investigating. Even the export was not very legal. Now perhaps he will import it.
Our multitude of laws ensures that we are all offenders.
DGFT Notification 97(RE-2008) / 2004-2009 Dated: March 17, 2009