AICTIC Regulatory Affairs • National Representation Desk
Policy Advocacy & Trade Facilitation
Championing the collective commercial interests of India's cashew processing ecosystem. AICTIC proactively engages with central ministries, export promotion bodies, and regulatory agencies to ensure fair tariff structures, streamlined customs clearance, and sustainable industrial growth.
Key Regulatory & Policy Portfolios
Tariff Protection & Duty Parity
Continuous dialogue with the Ministry of Finance and DGFT regarding rational Minimum Import Price (MIP) enforcement on cashew kernels to curb illegal transit and sub-valued dumping, alongside representing the case for concessional/zero Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) to feed domestic factory capacity.
Port Dwell Time & Demurrage Mitigation
Working alongside Port Trusts, Custodians, and CHAs across major ports (Vizag, Tuticorin, Mangalore, Cochin, Mundra) to address clearance dwell times, Phytosanitary Inspection (PQ) bottlenecks, and demurrage/detention waivers during vessel congestion periods.
Capital Subsidies & Automation Incentives
Advocating with the Ministry of MSME and state industrial departments to extend interest subventions, technology upgradation capital grants, and clean-room equipment subsidies to help traditional processing clusters transition into automated, hygienic plants.
Quality Benchmarks & Compliance
Harmonizing FSSAI food safety regulations with international standards, advocating for accredited testing labs across processing hubs, and defending member interests against subjective consignments rejections through standardized sampling guidelines.
Active Policy Submissions & Representations
Official Dossiers
| Subject / Dossier | Target Authority | Key Objective | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rationalization of MIP on Broken Kernels | DGFT / Ministry of Commerce | Prevention of circumvention via misdeclared tariff lines. | ● Drafting Stage |
| Duty-Free Inflow of Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) | Department of Revenue / MoF | Ensuring 100% capacity utilization of domestic shellers. | ● Drafting Stage |
| Expedited Plant Quarantine (PQ) Protocols | Directorate of Plant Protection | Reducing phytosanitary testing clearance window to 48 hours. | ● Drafting Stage |
| Technology Upgradation Scheme for MSME Shellers | Ministry of MSME | 25% capital subsidy for optical sorting and automatic shelling. | ● Drafting Stage |
Submit a Regulatory Grievance or Policy Suggestion
Facing customs delays, tariff misclassification, or regulatory bottlenecks? AICTIC members can submit specific trade issues to the confederation’s legal and policy cell for collective representation.