The Centre has hiked basic customs duty on laboratory chemicals from 10% to 150%, eliciting alarm among scientists, The Hindu reported on Wednesday. The announcement was made in Budget documents made public earlier this week.
Laboratory chemicals include imported chemicals, reagents and enzymes that are crucial to experimental research.
According to the Customs Department, laboratory chemicals include “all chemicals, organic or inorganic, whether or not chemically defined, imported in packings not exceeding 500 grams or 500 milliliters and which can be identified with reference to the purity, makings or other features to show them to be meant for use solely as laboratory chemicals”.
Following the Budget announcement, many work orders have been cancelled at university research centres across the country, The Times of India reported. Funding agencies reportedly told scientists that they had fixed budgets, and that they would not be able to absorb the tax hike on imported laboratory chemicals.
Researchers estimated that chemicals that earlier cost Rs 1 lakh would now be priced around Rs 2.5 lakh, according to The Hindu.
Academicians and student groups said on social media that the basic customs duty hike will hinder research and called for protesting the move.
Several scientists told The Hindu that there may have been a misprint in the Budget, or that chemicals used for research and development may be given exemptions.
Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, told the newspaper that authorities were aware of the matter and it would be resolved.