The Cabinet decided to increase the trade levy on the import of Mackerel Fish for production of canned fish, from Rs. 50 per kilogram to Rs. 100, Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister and Cabinet Co-spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.
The minister addressing the Cabinet press briefing held at the Information Department auditorium yesterday, said the taxes on imported fish were increased to Rs 100 per kilogram to encourage the local production and it was reduced to Rs 50 in 2015 to provide concessions to the consumers.
"However, the expected relief had not reached the consumers while the import of canned fish had increased to 40,000metric tons last year at a cost Rs.10 billion in foreign exchange. Hence the Cabinet approval has been granted for the proposal submitted by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to grant the special tax concessions for importation of Mackerel only to local canned fish producers and only for those who produce them complying with the given standards," he said.
Add new comment