The commerce ministry, in a bid to increase the government's non-tax earnings, has proposed doubling of registration and renewal fees for exporters and importers.

In the new policy, the annual import floor has been raised to Tk 5 lakh from Tk 1 lakh.

The registration and renewal fees corresponding to the import floor have been set at Tk 5,000 and Tk 3,000 respectively, from the existing Tk 3,000 and Tk 1,700.

Currently, the most that can be paid as registration and renewal fees are Tk 23,000 and Tk 17,000 respectively, corresponding to annual imports of above Tk 1 crore.

In the proposed policy, they stand at Tk 60,000 and Tk 30,000 respectively, for annual imports of above Tk 5 crore.

If an importer fails to deposit the renewal fee on time, a fine of 100 to 233 percent in excess of the existing fees, have to be paid.

The registration fee for the indenters has been increased by 45 percent to Tk 40,000, while the renewal fee has been raised by 48 percent to Tk 20,000.

For exports, the proposition has been a 100 percent rise in registration and renewal fees, to Tk 7,000 and Tk 5,000 respectively.

On the list of items banned for imports, old computers, old computer accessories, old electronic appliances, all types of industrial sludge and fertiliser and items produced with sludge, have been added.

While import of air gun ammunition will continue to be barred, with the permission from the home ministry, they can be imported for the purpose of sport and shooting clubs.

There has been a proposition to raise the highest value of essential commodities that could be imported through different customs ports.

Now, essentials worth $15,000 can be brought in through the Teknaf customs; raising that to $50,000 has been recommended.

For other land ports, an increase of $3,000 to $10,000 has been suggested.

A provision has been included for export of turbine imported for generation of electricity once it has been used.

Provision has been made for furnishing certificates of the imports of being melamine-free in case of import of food for human consumption.

The Daily Star/Bangladesh/ 15th July 2012