New Delhi, April 6 The government imposed export restrictions on wood briquettes, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional firewood, effective immediately, amid the West Asia crisis.
Previously, there were no restrictions on the export of this wood product. Now, an exporter needs permission or a license from the government for such shipments.
On the other hand, the government eased export restrictions on "sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms." Earlier exports of these goods were banned.
"The export policy of these items is revised with immediate effect from 'prohibited' to 'restricted' and from 'free' to 'restricted', respectively. Accordingly, exports of these items shall be permitted only under a restricted export authorization," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
The West Asia crisis has disrupted the movement of ships carrying oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over cooking gas supplies and prompting people to rush to buy induction heaters and compatible utensils.
Last month, India temporarily reintroduced kerosene for household use and coal for hotels and restaurants, as the escalating West Asia crisis disrupted its energy supply lines from Gulf countries. In addition, it asked environmental bodies to allow the use of biomass, RDF pellets, and coal as alternative fuels in the hospitality and restaurant segment for one month.