Mini aircraft import stopped

The Customs authorities at Mumbai’s international airport refused permission to import remote-controlled miniature aircrafts to some foreign participants of the ongoing International Aero Modellers’ Meet 2010 in Lonavla.

The Customs authorities at Mumbai’s international airport refused permission to import remote-controlled miniature aircrafts to some foreign participants of the ongoing International Aero Modellers’ Meet 2010 in Lonavla.

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The permission was refused, as the participants from Germany had not taken mandatory clearance from the ministry of commerce. The air cargo of the Customs cleared around 10 such aircraft on Tuesday.

Customs officials said the organisers or importers have to take clearance certificate from an officer of under secretary level or above with the ministry of commerce to import goods in India for any event.

The importers have to give an undertaking through execution of a bond to re-export the goods within a period of six months from the date of the closure of the event otherwise have to pay required import duty.

A senior Customs official said in the air cargo case, the importers gave undertaking but did not have the clearance of ministry of commerce. He said orders were issued to stop the clearance of other miniature aircraft coming to the city. The Customs authorities are contemplating action against the import of aircraft which were already cleared.