Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS)

Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS)- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Governance, Administration and Challenges- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Recently, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has introduced Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) by amending the import policy of major paper products from ‘Free’ to ‘Free subject to compulsory registration under PIMS’.

About: Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) will help curb dumping of the product and re-routing goods through other countries to take advantages of the trade pacts.
- PIMS may also promote ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar’ initiative under this category.
Implementation: PIMS shall come into effect from 1st October, 2022.
- However, the online facility of registration will be available from 15th July 2022.
Applicability: The PIMS shall be applicable on import by a Domestic Territory Area unit on a wide range of paper products covering 201 tariff lines, such as-
- Newsprint,
- Handmade paper,
- Coated paper,
- Uncoated paper,
- Litho and offset paper,
- Tissue paper,
- Toilet paper,
- Cartons,
- Labels, etc.
Excluded Items: Paper products like currency paper, bank bond and Cheque paper, security printing paper, etc. have been excluded from mandatory registration under Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS).
Need: Based on the demand of domestic paper industry, the introduction of PIMS is intended to curb-
- Imports under “Others” category Tariff Lines,
- Dumping of paper products in the domestic market by way of under-invoicing,
- Entry of prohibited goods by mis-declaration,
- Re-routing goods through other countries in lieu of trade agreements.

As per PIMS, an importer will be required to obtain an automatic registration number through online system by paying a registration fee of Rs. 500/- only, not earlier than 75th day and not later than 5th day before the expected date of arrival of import consignment.
The automatic registration Number shall remain valid for a period of 75 days and multiple consignments Bill of Entry (BoEs) shall be allowed in same registration number within the validity period of registration, for the permitted quantity.
Further, registration under PIMS shall also be required at the point of import by a Unit in Special Economic Zone/Free Trading Warehousing Zone or at the time of import by an Export Oriented Unit of the items covered under PIMS.
However, registration under PIMS shall not be required by the Domestic Territory Area (DTA) Unit at the time of Customs Clearance from the SEZ/FTWZ/EOU to DTA if no processing has taken place of the item of paper that has already been registered under PIMS at the time of entry into a SEZ/FTWZ/EOU.

shivam