Govt Exempts Basic Customs Duty on Drugs & Food Specially Imported to Treat Rare Diseases

New Delhi: The Central Government has exempted all drugs and Food for Special Medical Purposes imported for personal use for the treatment of all Rare Diseases from the basic customs duty.

The exempted drugs and Food are listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021. Finance Ministry said, to avail of this exemption, the individual importer has to produce a certificate from the Central or State Director of Health Services or the Civil Surgeon of the district.

The Ministry said the government has fully exempted Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) used in the treatment of various cancers from basic customs duty. The medicines generally attract basic customs duty of ten percent, while some categories of lifesaving drugs and vaccines attract a concessional rate of five percent or Nil.

The Ministry said the government has been receiving many representations seeking customs duty relief for drugs and medicines used in the treatment of rare diseases.