Govt imposes Minimum Import Price (MIP) on Virgin Multi-layer Paper Board; Amends import policy under Chapter 48

Govt imposes Minimum Import Price (MIP) on Virgin Multi-layer Paper Board; Amends import policy under Chapter 48

The Pulp and Paper Times

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has tightened import conditions for certain paper and paperboard products by amending the Import Policy under Chapter 48 of ITC HS, 2022. Through Notification No. 26/2025-26 issued on August 22, 2025, the government has made compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) mandatory for specified HS codes and imposed a Minimum Import Price (MIP) of INR 67,220 per MT on Virgin Multi-layer Paper Board (VPB) imports till March 31, 2026.

The notification, issued under the powers conferred by Section 3 and Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, and read with the provisions of Foreign Trade Policy 2023, introduces revised import conditions for specific HS codes. The major amendments are as follows:

Key Amendments:

HS Code 48059100 (Other, weighing 150 g/m² or less)
• Earlier Policy: Free.
• Revised Policy: Import remains Free, but subject to:
1.Compulsory Registration under Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) as per Policy Condition 04 of this Chapter.
2.Import of Virgin Multi-layer Paper Board (VPB) with a CIF value below INR 67,220/MT is Restricted till 31.03.2026.

HS Code 48059300 (Other, weighing more than 150 g/m² but less than 225 g/m²)

• Earlier Policy: Free subject to registration.
• Revised Policy: Import remains Free, subject to:
1.Compulsory Registration under PIMS as per Policy Condition 04 of this Chapter.
2.Import of Virgin Multi-layer Paper Board (VPB) with a CIF value below INR 67,220/MT is Restricted till 31.03.2026.

HS Code 48059300 (Other, weighing 225 g/m² or more)

• Earlier Policy: Free.
• Revised Policy: Import remains Free, subject to:
1. Compulsory Registration under PIMS as per Policy Condition 04 of this Chapter.
2. Import of VPB with CIF value below INR 67,220/MT is Restricted till 31.03.2026.

HS Code 48109200 (Other paper and paperboard: Multi-ply)
• Earlier Policy: Free.
• Revised Policy:
1. Import of Stock Lot is Prohibited (Notification No. 45/2015-2020 dated 31/01/2020).
2. Import of other items is Free, subject to Compulsory Registration under PIMS as per Policy Condition 04.
3. Import of VPB with CIF value below INR 67,220/MT is Restricted till 31.03.2026.

HS Code 48109900 (Other paper and paperboard, other)

• Earlier Policy: Free.
•  Revised Policy:
1. Import of Stock Lot is Prohibited (Notification No. 45/2015-2020 dated 31/01/2020).
2. Import of other items is Free, subject to Compulsory Registration under PIMS as per Policy Condition 04.
3. Import of VPB with CIF value below INR 67,220/MT is Restricted till 31.03.2026.

Effect of the Notification:

The government has effectively imposed a Minimum Import Price (MIP) of INR 67,220 per MT (CIF value) for import of Virgin Multi-layer Paper Board (VPB) falling under HS Codes 48059100, 48059200, 48059300, 48109200 and 48109900, which will remain in force until 31st March 2026.

This measure aligns with the government’s approach to regulate imports of certain paper products, ensure fair trade practices, and support the domestic paper industry while monitoring inflow through PIMS.
 

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