To provide impetus to domestic medical devices sector, the government has increased import duty on certain specified equipment to 7.5% from 5% earlier. “Rate of basic customs duty on certain specified medical device increased from 5% to 7.5%,” the finance ministry said in a statement. Simultaneously, the exemption from additional customs duty (SAD) on these medical devices has also been withdrawn, and they will now attract 4% SAD. “Further, to give fillip to domestic manufacturing, basic customs duty is being reduced to 2.5% along with full exemption from SAD on raw materials, parts and accessories for manufacture of medical devices (falling under headings 9018 to 9022),” the statement added.