The Finance Ministry has imposed provisional safeguard duty of twenty per cent on certain saturated fatty alcohols.Saturated fatty alcohols-- which are only sold for industrial users-- are mainly used for the manufacture of surfactants, personal care, homecare pharmaceutical and agriculture related end applications.

They also find application in processing of articles of paper, petroleum products, leather, textile and fabricated metal products.

Mumbai-based VVF(India) Ltd had filed the petition seeking safeguard duty on certain saturated fatty alcohol imports.

The Finance Ministry has also specified that the provisional safeguard duty--valid for 200 days-- will not apply for imports from developing countries other than Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.Godrej Industries, another domestic producer of saturated fatty alcohols, had supported the petition.

Source:- thehindubusinessline.com