GST Council 45th Meeting Official Press Release

GST Council 45th Meeting Official Press Release

• Life-saving drugs Zolgensma and Viltepso used in treatment of Spinal-Muscular Atrophy exempted from GST when imported for personal use
• Extension of existing concessional GST rates on certain COVID-19 treatment drugs upto 31st December 2021
• GST rates on 7 other medicines recommended by Department of Pharmaceuticals reduced from 12% to 5% till 31st December 2021
• GST rate on Keytruda medicine for treatment of cancer reduced from 12% to 5%
• GST rates on Retro fitment kits for vehicles used by persons with special abilities reduced to 5%
• GST rates on Fortified Rice kernels for schemes like ICDS reduced from 18% to 5%

Council also recommends major changes in GST rates and scope of exemption on Services

• Recommends several clarifications in relation to GST rates on Goods and Services
• Council recommends several measures relating to GST law and procedure
• Council decides to set up 2 GoMs to examine issue of correction of inverted duty structure for major sectors and for using technology to further improve compliance, including monitoring

The GST Council’s 45th meeting was held today in Lucknow under the chairmanship of the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. The GST Council has inter-alia made the following recommendations relating to changes in GST rates on supply of goods and services and changes related to GST law and procedure: I. Recommendations relating to GST rates on goods and services A. COVID-19 relief measure in form of GST rate concessions 1. Extension of existing concessional GST rates (currently valid till 30th September, 2021) on following Covid-19 treatment drugs, up to 31st December, 2021, namely-

• Amphotericin B -nil
• Remdesivir – 5%
• Tocilizumab -nil
• Anti-coagulants like Heparin – 5%

2. Reduction of GST rate to 5% on more Covid-19 treatment drugs, up to 31st December, 2021, namely-

• Itolizumab
• Posaconazole
• Infliximab
• Favipiravir
• Casirivimab & Imdevimab
• 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
• Bamlanivimab & Etesevimab

B. Major recommendations on GST rate changes in relation to Goods [w.e.f 1.10.2021 unless otherwise stated]

S. No.	Description	From	To
GST rate changes
1	Retro fitment kits for vehicles used by the disabled	Appl. rate	5%
2	Fortified Rice Kernels for schemes like ICDS etc.	18%	5%
3	Medicine Keytruda for treatment of cancer	12%	5%
4	Biodiesel supplied to OMCs for blending with Diesel	12%	5%
5	Ores and concentrates of metals such as iron, copper, aluminum, zinc and few others	5%	18%
6	Specified Renewable Energy Devices and parts	5%	12%
7	Cartons, boxes, bags, packing containers of paper etc.	12%/18%	18%
8	Waste and scrap of polyurethanes and other plastics	5%	18%
9	All kinds of pens	12%/18%	18%
10	Railway parts, locomotives & other goods in Chapter 86	12%	18%
11	Miscellaneous goods of paper like cards, catalogue, printed material (Chapter 49 of tariff)	12%	18%
12	IGST on import of medicines for personal use, namely: i. Zolgensma for Spinal Muscular Atrophy ii. Viltepso for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy iii. Other medicines used in treatment of muscular atrophy recommended by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Pharmaceuticals.	12%	Nil
13	IGST exemption on goods supplied at Indo-Bangladesh  Border haats	Appl. rate	Nil
14	Unintended waste generated during the production of fish meal except for Fish Oil	Nil (for the period 1.7.2017 to 30.9.2019)