IMPORT OF AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

IMPORTS:
        Government of India, Ministry of Commerce, had placed long ago, the import of Amateur Radio Communication Equipment by licenced Amateur Radio Operators.  Under Open General Licence (O.G.L.) Open General Licence itself a licence and all the items covered by it do not require any import licence from the Import Licensing Authorities for their imports.  These have subsequently been brought under their imports.  These have subsequently been brought under “Free Importability Clause” in the Exim Policy which also does not require any import licence from the Import Licensing authorities, doing away with the erstwhile term O.G.L.

      Ministry of Commerce announces the Import-Export Police, every year, applicable from 1st April to 31st March.  The new exim policy announced on 31-03-2000 for the year 2000-2001 continues to allow these equipments under Free Importability Clause, when imported by licensed Amateur Radio Operator.

II IMPORT (CUSTOMS) DUTY:

     Government of India, Ministry of Finance announces Customs Tariff every year in the annual budget.  This indicates the amount of Customs Duty payable on the import of various Items. The duty structure includes various segments viz., Basic Duty, Surcharge, Countervailing Duty (CVD) and Special Additional Duty (SADD).  Amateur Radio Equipment falls under S.No.852520.04 of the Indian Customs Tariff, and it attracts a Basic Duty of 25% plus surcharge, CVD and SADD.  The total of which, works out to 50.8% when imported in the normal course.

     However, the Ministry of Finance, has issued a Notification No.16 dated 01-03-2000 which is re-produced in the Indian Customs Tariff. 2000-2001, prescribing the Basic Duty as 5% only, totally granting exemption from CVD on Amateur Radio Equipment when imported by licensed Amateur Radio Operators, subject to the condition No.55 of this Notification.  The condition No.55 reads as:-

(a)	The total C.I.F. value of the wireless apparatus, accessories and parts imported under this notification does not exceed Seventy five thousand rupees.
(b)	The total value of the parts imported under this exemption does not exceed Rs.1000/-
(c)	The importer at the time of clearance, produces a certificate from an Officer not below the rank of an Assistant Wireless Adviser to Government of India in the Ministry of Communication to the effect that the wireless apparatus, accessories and parts in respect of which this exemption is claimed are within the value limits specified above, and also recommending the grant of this exemption.

EXPLANATION:

      “ Licensed amateur radio operator”, means a person duly authorized under the Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978, made under sections 4 & 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act 19885 (13 to 1885).

      To obtain this exemption, licensed amateur radio operators have to submit an application in the prescribed form, to the Assistant Wireless Adviser, WPC, New Delhi.

(i)	A Photostat copy of their valid Ham Licence 
(ii)	A Photostat copy of proforma invoice of the foreign suppliers, from whom the equipment is to be imported indicating the full / detailed description of the equipment and accessories, their C.I.F.value &
(iii)	A demand draft for Rs.50/- drawn in favour of P.A.O. (Hqtrs), Dept. of Telecommunications, payable at the service branch of State Bank of India. New Delhi.

      This certificate granting exemption from payment of the normal duty is often called by mistake as Import Licence or O.G.L. which is not correct.
      The Notification No.16 dated 01-03-2000 also contains a detailed list (i.e. list No.24) of Wireless Apparatus, Accessories and parts which are covered by this exemption.

WIRELESS APPARATUS AND ACCESSORIES:

1.	HF, VHF OR UHF transceiver (combination of transmitter and receiver) meant for amateur frequencies with accessories in assembled or kit form.
2.	UHF/VHF or VHF/UHF Repeater (combination of transmitter and receiver) meant for amateur frequencies with accessories is assembled or kit form.
3.	Transverter for amateur frequencies in assembled of kit form.
4.	Grid Dip Oscillator, Radio Frequency Interference Filter, Balun Transformer, SWR Bridge or reflectometer, Morse reader or Noise bridge.
5.	Antenna with or without feeders /Antenna rotators for amateur frequencies.
6.	Digital Frequency Counter (upto 600 MHz) with accessories.

(B) PARTS:
       1.    Transistors, diodes, integrated circuits /Chips, thermionic valves or vacuum tubes.
2.	Torodial cores, quartz crystals, relays, rotatory switches, ferrite beads.
3.	Variable condensers, air-dielectric type.
4.	Precision capacitors (fixed type) valve (s) between 1PF to 5000PF.
5.	Spare NiCad cells or pack, as required or used with thermoinic valves or vacuum tubes or toroidal cores (in case of hand held transceiver).
6.	Slow motion tuning mechanism with or without dials.

III PAYMENT OF SURCHARGE:

Goods falling under customs tariff No.8525.20 are exempted from payment of surcharge as per the Notification No.19 dated 01-03-2000 reproduced in the Indian Customs Tariff 2000-2001.

IV PAYMENT OF SPECIAL ADDITIONAL DUTY (SADD):

      There is no exemption from payment of SADD.  It is payable @ 4%.  This is calculated on the value of goods PLUS Duty Payable, which works out to 4.2% Thus the total duty payable is (5% + 4.2%) 9.2%.

      It is advisable that Hams desirous of importing these equipments, accessories and parts may get the position confirmed from the customs authorities before placing orders, to avoid any problems that may be faced at the time of clearance, as they (customs) are the competent authorities to decide this.

APPLICATION FOR LICENCE TO IMPORT WIRELESS TRANSMITTING AND / OR TRANSCEIVING APPARATUS INTO INDIA

To

The Assistant Wireless Advisor to Govt. of India,
Ministry of Communication & Information Technology,
Department of Telecommunications, (WPC Wing),
619, Sanchar Bhavan,
Parliament Street,
NEW DELHI – 110 001.
	Date :      /      /2003	

1.	Name of Applicant (in block letters)	:
2.	Permanent Address in India	:

3.	Licence No. and date of expiry	:
4.	Callsign 	: VU
5.	Port at which it is desired to import apparatus	:
6.	Probable date of importation	:
7.	Reference of Ministry of Communication Import Licence (Last year`s and / or current)

8.	Whether first licence wanted now (Annexure to be filled up) ??
9.	Purpose for which required 	:			
Item No.	Manufacturer’s Name	Whether Transmitter or Components thereof	Model or Type No.	Qty	Tuned Spot Frequency(ies) in case of Main Equipment under import & Frequency Tolerance	C.I.F.Value in foreign Currency	Equivalent
Indian Rupees	
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	

								

Place: ………………     			Signature of the Applicant…………………….…………
Date…………  				Address      ……………………………………………….
……………………………………………….
……………………………………………….
…………………………………PIN.……….

Enclosures:
1.	Technical literature to be enclosed.
2.	Bank Draft for Rs.50/- (fifty only) should be obtained from any branch of the SBI, in favour of “Pay & Accounts Officer (HQ), D.O.T, New Delhi” payable at Service Branch no. 7687, New Delhi.
3.	Photocopy of the proforma invoice for the equipment / accessories you wish to import.
4.	Photocopy of your Ham Licence (with renewal slip)