Govt exempts basic customs duty on drugs and food specially imported to treat Rare Diseases

New Delhi: The Central Government has exempted all drugs and Food for Special Medical Purposes imported for personal use for treatment of all Rare Diseases from the basic customs duty.

The exempted drugs and Food are listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021. To avail the exemption, the



individual importer has to produce a certificate from the Central or State Director Health Services or the Civil Surgeon of the district. The Ministry said, the government has fully exempted Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) used in the treatment of various cancers from basic customs duty.