Teak cannot be imported from Myanmar under ‘restricted list’

Aizawl: The Center has informed Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kumbhampati that import of teak and other timber not covered by the ‘restricted list’ is allowed from Myanmar, an official said on Wednesday.

In July, the Governor had written to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal informing him about the problems faced in importing teak and other wood products following a request by the Mizoram Wood Based Industry Owners Association (MWIOA).
The association requested the governor to take steps to remove teak and other woods from the banned list.

The official said that the Union Minister recently informed the Governor in his letter that teak wood and other timber are not in the restricted list of imports from Myanmar.

Goyal said that there are only two items of wood or wood products – rough wood of red sanders (marked as article HS 44039918) and rough wood of sandalwood (marked as HS 44039922), imported from Myanmar. are under the prohibited or restricted list. .The Union Minister said that all other timber goods or timber products can be imported through Zokhawthar Land Customs Station without any restrictions.

The Union Minister also pointed out that the Land Customs Station at Zokhawthar on the Mizoram-Myanmar border in Champai district has already been notified as a Land Customs Station under the Customs Act, 1962.