Toy import Toy imports dropped in last 3 yrs following quality control, increased custom duty: Centre
New Delhi/IBNS: The government has taken series of steps to promote domestic manufacturing of toys to ensure that no sub-standard, unsafe cheap toys are imported into India. Import of toys into Indian market during the last three years has shown a decreasing trend, Union minister of state for commerce and Industry told Lok Sabha in written reply on Wednesday.
These include mandatory sample testing of each imported consignment of toys, enhancement of Basic Custom Duty on Toys from 20 percent to 60 percent, implementation of Toys (Quality Control) Order with effect from 01.01.2021, etc.
The measures are aimed at promoting domestic toy industry in the country that face strong competition from cheap and substandard imported toys.
As per data available under Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum, there are 8366 registered MSMEs in India under the National Industrial Classification Code 2008 (NIC 2008) for toy manufacturing (codes number 32401, 32402, 32403, 32404,32405,32409).
In 2018-19 imports under "Other toys, reduced-size models and similar recreational models, etc" stood at $ 304.08 million which dropped to $279.25 million in 2019-20 and $129.63 million in 2020-21.
Imports under category "Video Game Consoles and Machines, Articles for funfair, table or parlour games" were at $50.03 million in 2018-19. It reduced to $48.38 million in 2019-20 and $38.12 million in 2020-21.
The items under "Festive, carnival or other entertainment articles, including conjuring tricks and novelty joke" category also recorded an icrease in imports in 2019-20 againts 2018-19. The imports were recorded at $14.58 million in 2018-19 while in 2019-20 it increased to $16.3 million but dropped to $10.17 million in the following year.
In order to support the Indian toy industry Designing of toys based on Indian values, culture, and history; Using toys as a learning resource; and Promoting indigenous toy clusters.
Under the Scheme of Funds for Re-generation of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises assistance is provided for creation of common facilities centre with latest machines, design-centres, raw material bank, skill development etc. A total of 14 toy clusters across the country have been approved under the scheme benefitting 8839 artisans with an outlay of Rs. 41.60 crore (approx).
Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textile is also providing need based support to Toy Clusters in the area of technology, marketing, soft and hard interventions and infrastructural support for sustainable development of handicraft artisan has identified 13 toy clusters across the country for the overall development of cluster, artisans of handmade toys.
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