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Centre must reduce tariffs on foods for managing cancer, says ASSOCHAM

Saturday, 20 December, 2014, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Our Bureau, New Delhi

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has urged the Centre to reduce the tariff imposed on nutritional foods that are essential for the management of cancer and renal disease, as the government readies itself to prepare the 2015-16 Budget.

“There is a need to relook at the duties being currently levied on imported products which are able to provide quality nutrition (which are highly recommended by healthcare professionals) as an early and intensive nutrition intervention is beneficial for both diseases,” the apex industry body said in a communication addressed to Amitabh Kant, secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

As per the current import duty structure for nutritional food products beneficial for both these diseases, basic customs duty (BCD) is charged at 30 per cent and a countervailing duty (CVD) is charged at 12.36 per cent.

As CVD is also levied at the same rate on domestic manufacturers, BCD is additional for importers.

“Patients already suffer because of the high cost of medicines for these diseases. If both BCD and CVD are made nil, nutritious food would be available at a lower cost. This would benefit hundreds of thousands of families,” said D S Rawat, secretary general, ASSOCHAM.

“In Singapore and Vietnam, the customs duties on similar products are nil and as low as five per cent respectively,” he added.

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is the most common secondary diagnosis in individuals diagnosed with cancer, starting from an inadequate intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to the reduced absorption of macronutrients.

Patients with renal failure represent an extremely heterogeneous group, whose nutritional requirements can, therefore, differ widely. As such, PEM is very common amid kidney patients, and negatively impacts prognosis.

ProSure is a therapeutic nutritional food product scientifically formulated to address the nutritional needs of people suffering from cancer-induced weight loss or those who are at risk of developing this complication.

Various clinical studies have demonstrated that drinking ProSure daily as part of an overall cancer plan promotes weight gain; helps build/maintain lean body mass; improves one’s physical activity, quality of life, appetite and dietary intake; increases one’s strength, and accentuates pro-inflammatory response.

Nepro LP is a product for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, while Nepro HP is for patients on dialysis.

“Clinicians prescribe these products due to such benefits as quality protein, a high quantity of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), the presence of modified maltodextrin (Fibersol), low electrolytes and calorie density (more calories in less volume).

It is estimated that about 80,000 new cases of cancer would be seen by 2020 in India. While the current prevalence of kidney diseases is about 17 per cent in the country.