New Delhi, Aug 3: The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has demanded imposition of import or countervailing duty of at least 30 per cent on imported sugar.

Addressing a press conference here, ISMA president M Manickam stated that such a step would ensure a level-playing field for the domestic industry keeping in view the central and state taxes on domestic sugar and the obligation of the domestic industry to supply 40 per cent of its output as levy sugar at prices admittedly far below the cost of production. He further urged that some checks and balances must be introduced on imported sugar rather than leaving it completely free. As in respect of domestic sugar, the imported sugar should also be subjected to releases by government and such releases should be duly taken into account while fixing the overall free sale quota for the period, he said.

He warned against the consequences of the government's current policy of duty free imports without any quantitative restrictions. Undoubtedly, large scale imports affected the domestic industry.

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