Petitions To Decrease GST For The Dry Fruits Industry

The nuts and dry fruit industries have sent a petition to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating exemption of goods and services tax levied on the same. Stating the numerous health benefits of nuts and dry fruits, and the wide consumption, especially by the vegetarian population, the businesses have petitioned to reduce the GST. Many businesses also feel that the GST levied on different types of nuts and dry fruits are extremely discriminating. While Cashew and raisin have been categorized under the 5% tax rate, other nuts fall under the 12% category.

Many business heads dealing in the industry has highlighted that this discrimination between the same variety of products makes no sense whatsoever. Some of the health nuts like Cashew, Raisin, Almond, Walnut and Pistachio are grouped together and have a low GST applying. On the other hand, health nuts of other variations are charged higher.

There is also the addition of customs duty for all the nuts that are imported from foreign countries. Almond and pistachio have 10% customs duty levied, whereas, cashew and walnut attract a 30% customs duty.

The businesses have also stated that nuts and dry fruits are also the same, regardless of the place they are grown. The entire money is charged for cleaning, sorting, peeling and packaging. Charging this high a GST can send the industry into a frenzy and hence needs to curbed till there is still time.