The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has initiated anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of Vitamin A Palmitate originating from Switzerland and China PR.

The investigation is in the wake of the complaints from Nicholas Piramal India Ltd (NPIL) on alleged dumping of Vitamin A Palmitate from these countries. According to DGAD, the authority has found sufficient prima facie evidence of dumping of Vitamin A Palmitate from these countries, thereby causing injury to the domestic industry. The current investigation is to determine the 'existence, degree and effect of any alleged dumping and to recommend the amount of antidumping duty, which if levied would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.'

The authority has noted that Vitamin A Palmitate is available in various strengths viz Vitamin A Palmitate 1.7 and Vitamin A Palmitate 1.0. It is known that Vitamin A Palmitate 1.7 is the one that is being coming from Singapore and China. Since the production process, physical and chemical characteristics of both the products are similar and the products are substitutable and can be interchangeably used, and that Vitamin A Palmitate of various strengths have the same end use, investigations are to cover Vitamin A Palmitate 1.7 and 1.0 in all its strengths and forms.

NPIL, the sole producer of Vitamin A in the country, has pointed out that there is no difference in the products produced and sold by them and the ones imported from these countries. The products are being directly imported by the user industries and also by traders for supply to other industries. The consumers are using the domestic and corresponding import products interchangeably, NIPL said. The DGAD has hinted that there is sufficient evidence that normal values of Vitamin A Palmitate in these countries are significantly higher than the net export prices. According to them, this indicates prima facie that the goods are being dumped in the Indian market by exporters from these countries.