?ASSOCHAM urges Union Government to reduce customs duty on chilled and frozen sea food

Apex industry body ASSOCHAM has urged the Union Government to reduce customs duty on chilled and frozen sea food from present level of 30 percent to 10 percent to bring down food inflation and satiate high demand for sea food in India.

ASSOCHAM highlighted in its pre-budget memorandum (indirect taxes) submitted to the Centre, "Local fisheries will not get affected by imports because sea food availability in India is much lower than its demand."

D S Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM, "High import duty makes it unviable to bring-in a variety of sea food products available globally which shall reduce food inflation tremendously and provide much-needed proteins to Indians at cheap cost."