Grant of Industrial Licences/Foreign Collaboration approvals/Project Import Certification etc. for wood based items- prior clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests - regarding - FEMA - 09

PRESS NOTE NO. 9 (1998 SERIES) F. No. 10(37)/98-IP Government of India Ministry of Industry Department of Industrial Policy Promotion Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi The 27th August 1998 Subject:- Grant of Industrial Licences/Foreign Collaboration approvals/Project Import Certification etc. for wood based items- prior clearance from the Ministry of Environment Forests - regarding. Plywood, veneer of all types and other wood based products such as particle board, medium density fibre board/ block board have been delicensed vide this Department Press Note No.11 (1997 series) dated the 17th July, 1997 subject to locational conditions and relevant statutes/statutory/policy notifications such as the National Forest Policy and directions and decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, in respect of wood based items reserved for the small scale sector where the unit is being set up in the organised sector, or where locational angle is involved, compulsory licensing under the Industries(Development Regulation) Act, 1951 is still attracted. Similarly, for setting up 100% EOUs, foreign collaboration and project import certification etc., approval of the Government is required. Such cases pertaining to wood based items, where approval of the Government is needed, are necessarily considered in consultation with the Ministry of Environment Forests. It has, therefore, been decided that henceforth entrepreneurs who wish to obtain approval from the Government for setting up any wood based project should obtain prior clearance from the Ministry of Environment Forests before submitting the application to the Administrative Ministry/SIA and enclose a copy of "in principle" approval given by the Ministry of Environment Forests. (ASHOK KUMAR) Joint Secretary to the Government of India