The ministry of commerce issued a clarification regarding preparation of the list of 25-category products for duty-free entry into Indian market. The issue was raised at a press conference held on Monday at the ministry where, the ministry thinks, some confusion was created centering a comment of the commerce secretary on the issue.

In its clarification the ministry said, "Replying question from the newsmen, the commerce secretary said he did not find any document which supports that the commerce ministry prepared the list of 25-catogory products. Even it could not be ascertained that the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) prepared the list."

"The commerce secretary further said that he heard one businessman prepared the list. And, at the press conference, he did not mention that the businessman carried the list to Delhi," the clarification added.

"When asked to mention the name of the businessman, the secretary said as there was no document he would not be able to mention the name."