Finmin clarifies on drug excise issue

 "At present, 92 commodities are assessed for excise on the basis of the retail sale price. In the case of drugs, wide variation between the declared ex-factory price, on the basis of which excise duty was paid, and retail price was noticed specially in the case of drugs manufactured by loan licensee/job worker. Such variations also become source of valuation disputes.

 "The Sandhu Committee constituted by the department of chemicals and petrochemicals to look into the issue of overcharging by drug companies observed that abnormally high trade margins are prevailing, particularly, in respect of generic drugs.

 "In view of the above, it was decided to levy excise duty on drugs after giving an abatement of 35% from the declared retail price. The abatement of 35% takes into account 10% margin to the wholesaler, 20% margin to the retailer and the statutory levies.  In effect, excise duty is charged at 16% on 65% of the retail price.  The standard trade margins and statutory levies are excluded from the retail price for the purpose of levy of excise duty," the release said.