Page 42 - ELT_1st July 2020_Vol 373_Part 1

A16 EXCISE LAW TIMES [ Vol. 373

• India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA).
• Indo-Thailand Free Trade Agreement.
• India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
(IMCECA).
• India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA).
• India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(IJCEPA).
• Asean-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA).
These Preferential arrangements/agreements prescribe Rules of Origin
which have to be met for exports to be eligible for tariff preference.
In the same Para HbP states “Authorised agencies on charging a fee as
prescribed by them provides services relating to issue of Certificate of Origin,
including details regarding rules of origin, list of items covered by an agreement,
extent of tariff preference, verification and certification of eligibility.
 Export Inspection Council (EIC) is agency authorized to print blank
1
certificates.”
In the same Para HbP further states following :
Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)
It is a non-contractual instrument by which industrialized (developed)
countries unilaterally and based on non-reciprocity extend tariff conces-
sions to developing countries. Presently following countries extend tariff
preferences under their GSP Scheme :
(i) USA
(ii) New Zealand
(iii) Belarus
(iv) EU
(v) Japan
(vi) Russia
(vii) Canada
________________________________________________________________________________
1 “The Export Inspection Council (EIC) is the official export-certification body of India which ensures quali-
ty and safety of products exported from India. EIC was set up by the Government of India under Section 3
of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 to ensure sound development of export trade of
India through quality control and inspection and matters connected therewith. The role of EIC is to ensure
that products notified under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 are meeting the re-
quirements of the importing countries in respect of their quality and safety.
The Export Inspection Council is located at Delhi and is headed by a Chairman. The Executive Head of the
Council is the Director of Inspection & Quality Control who is responsible for day to day functioning of the
Council. The assurance to quality and safety is provided through either a consignment wise inspection or a
quality assurance/food safety management based certification through its field organization. The Export In-
spection Agencies (EIAs) located at Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Delhi and Chennai with a network of 30 sub-
offices backed by the state of art, NABL accredited laboratories at various places. EIC provides mandatory
certification for various Food items namely fish & fishery products, dairy product, honey, egg products,
meat and meat products, poultry meat products, animal casing, Gelatine, Ossein and crushed bones and
feed additive and pre-mixtures while other food and non-food products are certified on voluntary basis.
With more than four decade experience in the field of inspection, testing and certification of food items as
per importing country’s requirements, EIC is the only organization in India having global acceptance.”
EXCISE LAW TIMES  1st July 2020  42