Biscuit manufacturers have sought abolition of excise duty and reduction in value added tax by as much as 4 per cent in the Budget, stating that the product is consumed by common man and also distributed as relief material.
At present, central excise duty on biscuits, cookies and wafers with maximum retail price (MRP) above Rs 100 per kg is eight per cent, while VAT in many states is 12.5 per cent, the industry body pointed out. On cakes, however, the excise duty is levied at four per cent.