In the world of export-import, each shipment counts. And you cannot afford to make any “uninformed investment”. So, if you have any doubt or a question, ask us. Our team of experts at The Dollar Business Intelligence Unit will be happy to answer your queries. Your question(s), if approved, will also be published on www.thedollarbusiness.com, and/or in forthcoming issue of The Dollar Business

I would like to know the list of countries that mandate a health certificate for import of food products from India.Also want to know more about health certificates? (Farzana Shaikh,Exim Officer, Prakash Chemicals International Pvt. Ltd., +91-8401050XXX, [email protected])

Dear Farzana: As far as relevance of health certificates is concerned, WTO allows member countries to come up with measures to protect public health. Agreements like Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT) permit countries to draft policies to protect public health within their borders as long as they do so in a manner that restricts international trade as little as possible. This also means that these restrictions vary from country to country. Hence, we request for a question with either greater details or one that has a greater focus. For example, we would like to know the country you intent to export to.Which food products are you referring to? The Dollar Business Intelligence Unit would like to hear from you. Your question means a lot to us.

Response by: Steven Philip Warner, President (VMPL) & Editor-in-Chief, The Dollar Business

I want to know HS codes for roasted peanuts (with shell) and boiled peanuts (with shell)? (Dhaval Chaudhari, Director, Farmkart Foods, Himatnagar, Sabarkantha, Gujarat, +91942786XXX,- [email protected])

Dear Dhaval: The HS Codes for roasted peanuts (with shell) and boiled peanuts (with shell) are 20081100 and 08029000 (provided the fruit retains its original characteristics) respectively.

Response by: Manish K. Pandey, Editor, The Dollar Business

We want to import purses, mobile covers and wallets, clothing for kids, and watches from China with port of destination being Mundra Port. What custom duties and other charges are applicable on these products? (Arpita, Manager – Business Development, Pragya International, [email protected])

Dear Arpita: We assume you want to import purses, mobile covers and wallets made from leather from China. While import of leather products from China attract a total import duty of 29.441%, importing watches from China would attract an import duty of 24.463%. As far as clothing for kids is concerned, we would request greater details. For example, we would like to know which garments and clothing accessories are you considering for imports. The Dollar Business Intelligence Unit would like to hear from you.

Response by: Dr. A. K. Sengupta, Chief Consulting Editor, The Dollar Business

We want to export services to countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. We have no idea about foreign trade. How do we start? How can we receive payment? What kind of taxes do we have to pay? (Suman Bandyopadhyay, Proprietor, Digital Weightronics, Burdwan, West Bengal, [email protected])

Dear Suman: Since you are a first-time exporter, you will have to start by obtaining an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from the DGFT. An IEC is a 10-digit number allotted to a person that is mandatory for undertaking any export/import activities. Application for obtaining IEC can be filed manually and submitting the form in the office of Regional Authority (RA) of DGFT. Now the facility for IEC in electronic form or e-IEC has also been operationalised. You can also begin with approaching your concerned EPC – Services Export Promotion Council – for assistance or reach out to potential buyers by posting your services on B2B websites. You can also post your services on https://in.thedollarbusiness.com/trade/b2b-login.php. You can choose the ones that meet your requirements and are popular among buyers in the countries you want to export to. In respect of an export from India, payment can be received in a currency appropriate to the place of final destination as mentioned in the declaration form irrespective of the country of residence of the buyer. For this to happen, you need to have an Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Account (EEFC) with an Authorised Dealer i.e. a bank dealing in foreign exchange. EEFC is a facility provided to the foreign exchange earners, including exporters, to credit 100% of their forex earnings to a their bank account, so that they do not have to convert foreign exchange into Rupees and vice versa, thereby minimising the transaction costs. Payment for export may also be received by the exporter in the following manner: (i) in the form of a bank draft, cheque, pay order, foreign currency notes/travellers cheque from a buyer during his visit to India, provided the foreign currency so received is surrendered within the specified period to the authorised dealer of which the exporter is a customer; (ii) by debit to FCNR/NRE account maintained by the buyer with an authorised dealer or an authorised bank in India; (iii) in rupees from the credit card servicing bank in India against the charge slip signed by the buyer where such payment is made by the buyer through a credit card; (iv) from a rupee account held in the name of an Exchange House with an authorised dealer if the amount does not exceed Rs.2 lakh per export transaction; (v) in accordance with the directions issued by the Reserve Bank to authorised dealers, where the export is covered by the arrangement between the Central Government and the Government of a foreign country or by the credit arrangement entered into by the Exim Bank with a financial institution in a foreign state.

As far as taxes are concerned, taxes like SAD, Service Tax, VAT, etc., are not applicable on a product or service if that product or service is exported from India. Since the sale is not taking place within India, therefore such products or services are not subject to tax within India. Taxes on exported products or service are governed by the laws of the country to which the product or service is being exported. Rule of thumb is – goods and services are exported, not taxes.Further, service providers of notified services, located in India, are rewarded under the new Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS). To get a better understanding of the services covered under the new SEIS scheme and the benefits available to the service providers refer to Chapter 3 of FTP 2015-20 on https://in.thedollarbusiness.com/foreign-trade-policy-2015-2020).

Response by: Steven Philip Warner, President (VMPL) & Editor-in-Chief, The Dollar Business

I want to start seafood export business. I have no idea about foreign trade. How do I start? (Durush, Farmer, +91-9949156XXX, [email protected])

Dear Durush: Since you are a first-time exporter, you will have to start by obtaining an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from the DGFT.An IEC is a 10-digit number allotted to a person that is mandatory for undertaking any export/import activities. Application for obtaining IEC can be filed manually and submitting the form in the office of Regional Authority (RA) of DGFT. Now the facility for IEC in electronic form or e-IEC has also been operationalised. Once you have obtained the IEC and received an export order for your product from an overseas market you need to file the following mandatory documents required for export of goods from India: (1) Bill of Lading/Airway Bill; (2) Commercial Invoice cum Packing List; and (3) Shipping Bill/Bill of Export.Once you have submitted these documents you can ship your product to the buyer. You can also begin with approaching your concerned EPC – Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) – for assistance or reach out to potential buyers by posting your product information on B2B websites. You can also post your products on https://in.thedollarbusiness.com/trade/b2b-login.php. There are other e-commerce portals across the globe.You can choose from them taking into consideration the parts of the world you want to export to.In case you have further queries, The Dollar Business Intelligence Unit would like to hear from you. Your question means a lot to us.

Response by: Manish K. Pandey, Editor, The Dollar Business