The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced the decisions taken by the Council in a meeting. The Council extended the concessional tax rates on Corona-related medicines till 31st December.
Finance Minister said that there had been lot of media speculation on whether petroleum products would be brought under ambit of GST.
“This came on today’s agenda purely because of the Kerala High Court order where it suggested the matter to be placed before GST Council. The Council members made it clear they do NOT want petroleum products to be included under GST. It was decided, we will report to Kerala HC that, matter has been discussed and Council felt it was not the time to bring petroleum products under GST,” she said.
The Council today decided to extend existing concessional GST rates on Covid-19 treatment drugs till to 31st December, 2021. These medicines include: Amphotericin B (nil), Remdesivir (5%), Tocilizumab (nil), Anti-coagulants like Heparin (5%).
Reduction of GST rate to 5%
– Itolizumab
– Posaconazole
– Infliximab
– Favipiravir
– Casirivimab and Imdevimab
– 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
– Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab
Major recommendations on GST rate changes in relation to Goods
Retro fitment kits for vehicles used by the disabled – GST reduced to 5%
Fortified Rice Kernels for schemes like ICDS etc – GST reduced from 18% to 5%
Medicine Keytruda for treatment of cancer – GST reduced from 12% to 5%
Biodiesel supplied to OMCs for blending with Diesel – GST reduced from 12% to 5%
Ores and concentrates of metals such as iron, copper, aluminum, zinc and few others – GST increased from 5 to 18%
Specified Renewable Energy Devices and parts – GST increased from 5 to 12%
Cartons, boxes, bags, packing containers of paper etc. GST increased from 12/18% to 18%
Waste and scrap of polyurethanes and other plastics – GST increased from 5 to 18%
All kinds of pens – GST increased from 12/18% to 18%
Railway parts, locomotives and other goods in Chapter 86 – GST increased from 12% to 18%
Miscellaneous goods of paper like cards, catalogue, printed material (Chapter 49 of tariff) – GST increased from 12% to 18%
IGST exemption on goods supplied at Indo-Bangladesh (Border haats) – Nil GST
Unintended waste generated during the production of fish meal except for Fish Oil – Nil GST
Nil GST
IGST on import of medicines for personal use, namely:
– Zolgensma for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
– Viltepso for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
– Other medicines used in treatment of muscular atrophy recommended by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Pharmaceuticals.
The FM said revenue neutral position which was 15.5% at time of introduction of GST has steadily come down to around 11.6%. This issue was discussed today’s meeting.
