Govt issues Import of Wheat (Stock Declaration) Order 2006

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) In a bid to check the spiralling prices and hoarding, the Government today notified the Import of Wheat (Stock Declaration) Order 2006 requiring traders to declare particulars of wheat imported and received by them within seven days from the date of receipt of stocks.

The order came into force from yesterday (September 19, 2006).

According to the Order, every importer of wheat would be required to submit a return by the 10th of every month about stocks of wheat imported, released and retained by him to the Central and state governments.

The Order also provides for submission of returns to the Central Government by Deputy Commissioners of Customs at every port on receipt of any cargo containing wheat imported to India.

This Order, however, does not apply to any wheat imported by or on behalf of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Keeping in view the increasing trend in the open market prices of essential commodities like wheat and pulses in the recent past the Central Government had kept in abeyance the provisions allowing for removal of stock limits on foodstuffs (contained in orders dated February 15, 2002 and June 16, 2003) for a period of six months with effect from August 29, 2006, enabling the state governments to impose suitable stock limits to check hoarding.

It was also provided in the said order that the Central and state governments may direct the importers to declare the receipt of stocks of these commodities and stocks retained by them.

Earlier, the Centre had issued an order effective from August 29, 2006 for imposing stock limits for wheat and pulses for a period of six months under the ''Removal of (Licensing requirements, Stock limits and Movement Restrictions) on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2006.

Through that order, the Centre had restored the powers of state governments for imposing stock-holding limits for wheat and pulses under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to check the further price rise.

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