Compliance Chambers

Public procurement forms a very important part of Government activity and reform in Public Procurement is one of the top priorities of the present Government. Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a very bold step of the Government with the aim to transform the way in which procurement of goods and services is done by the Government Ministries/Departments, PSUs, autonomous bodies etc. GeM is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal human interface. The purchases through GeM by Government users have been authorized and made mandatory by Ministry of Finance by adding a new Rule No. 149 in the General Financial Rules, 2017. Background:      GeM owes its genesis to the recommendations of two Groups of Secretaries made to the Hon’ble PM in January 2016. They recommended setting up of a dedicated e-market for different goods & services procured/sold by Government/PSUs besides reform

Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to tax matters with the Revenue Departments of India and BRICS countries - Brazil, Russian Republic, China and South Africa. Objective: The objective of this MoU is to promote collaboration between the Revenue Departments of BRICS countries and cooperation in capacity building and knowledge sharing in international forums on common interests in tax matters. Under this, it is envisaged that regular discussions have been planned to discuss common interest areas between the heads of Revenue Departments of BRICS countries, so that exchange of ideas while organising a meeting of tax experts to discuss contemporary issues in the field of international taxation. In addition, this MoU supports can be provided with the privacy and security of the exchange of information under this MoU. Effect: This MOU will encourage effective

Provident Fund Department in its earlier circular stated that the field offices shall not allot code numbers and insist for local compliance in respect of the units/branches of the already covered establishments. However, there was no bar to the allotment of code number for the local unit/branch in case of a request by the establishment for their administrative convenience. Based on the above directions issued by the Department, many establishments having employees working at different locations and branches were depositing PF dues of all the workers under a single PF code number. However, there were demands by the local PF officials to give a facility for field offices to monitor compliance in their inspection area or information driven scrutiny of compliance. Considering the gap in compliances, Provident Fund Department has developed a facility for all such employers to furnish their location-wise employees' particulars. PROCEDURE: Ø Now, an employer can decla

Union minister of state for road transport and highways, shipping and chemicals & fertilizers, SHRI MANSUKH LAL MANDAVIYA, today in Rajya Sabha , informed that during the monitoring of compliance with various provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013) by drug manufacturers, it is seen that the provisions related to ‘new drugs’ have not been followed in some cases wherein pharmaceutical companies have launched the formulation without taking prior price approval from NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AUTHORITY (NPPA). The concerned companies were instructed to furnish certified batch wise production and sales details along with the corresponding MRP for the formulations from the date of launch of the product till date. Demand notices for an amount of Rs. 74.65 crore have been issued to the erring pharmaceutical companies for launching such drugs/medicines without prior price approval of NPPA. Out of this, AN AMOUNT OF RS. 1.05 CRORE HAS SO FAR BEEN RECOVERED

With the advent of GST (Goods & Service Tax) from July 1, 2017, many cases have arisen in which the Retail Sale Price of the Pre-packaged commodity is required to be changed due to the change in the rate of Taxes which may be different from the rates prescribed under the erstwhile tax regime. In this context, the Honourable Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has taken a proactive approach and has made the arrangements for the Pre-packaged Commodity Manufacturers or Packers or Importers to handle this situation in a hassle free manner. Below is the brief of the measures undertaken by the Government of India in this regard: Increase in Retail Sale Price of the Pre-packaged Commodity Express permission has been provided to all MANUFACTURERS OR PACKERS OR IMPORTERS to declare the changed Retail Sale Price (MRP) on the unsold stock of manufactured/ packed/ imported Pre-packaged Commodity prior to 1st July, 2017, a

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs, exercising the power conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 52 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (1 of 2010), have amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. With this amendment, Ministry of Consumer Affairs has tried their best to match the pace & requirement of the law with not only the Retail or Wholesale industry but also the E-commerce buying & selling market too. However, few provisions like the provision of “Complete Address” exhibits the confusion in the mind of lawmaker because the situation has been restored again in line with the original legislation. It’s the first time since the law was made, the Department of Consumer Affairs has highlighted the need of protection of consumer from differential pricing in packaged commodity (products like bread and milk are allowed to be sold at different prices in different states) through Pa