The government has waived the existing 5 per cent duty on onion imports, but the 5 per cent regulatory duty has been kept.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a notification to this effect on Thursday afternoon, signed by NBR chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem.

A total of 10 per cent duty currently applies to onion imports: 5 per cent import duty and 5 per cent regulatory duty. The notification states the exemption from the applicable duty on onion imports.

On 7 January this year the NBR imposed a 10 per cent duty on onion imports in the interest of the country's farmers. That order reinstated the previously withdrawn 5 per cent import duty and added a new 5 per cent regulatory duty. The NBR said the decision was taken under powers given by section 18 of the Customs Act 1969.

Source: Amader Shomoy. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.