INDIA

Capital: New Delhi
Population:  1,095,000,000
Currency: Rupee
Official Language(s): Hindi

I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)

Please click on the above link for a list of chemical MRLs.

II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION

A. Chemical residue standards:

    Maximum tolerance levels are set for most approved chemicals.  Codex standards for MRLs are followed only for the chemicals not included on India's positive list.

B.  Monitoring Chemicals Residues:

India monitors chemical residue levels on imported food products through random sampling of shipments at the port of entry.

C. Restrictions on use of waxes:

India permits the use of white and and yellow beeswax, shellac and carnauba wax.

Every package of fresh fruits, if coated with wax shall carry the following label, namely:

"Coated with wax (give name of wax)."

III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS

No information.

IV. TARIFFS

Apples:    50%
Pears:      30.6%
Cherries:  30.6%

The government of India has imposed an Educational Cess (a special surcharge) of 2 percent on all direct and indirect taxes (but not on the CIF value).

Apples are exempt from the Educational Cess as the duty charged on this product is equal to the WTO bound rate for India.

V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

    A. Labeling requirements:

      The shipping carton must list:

  1. Nature of the commodity - apples
  2. Name and address of packer
  3. Net weight (metric)
  4. Pack date
  5. Country of origin
  6. Every package of fresh fruits, if coated with wax, shall carry the following label, namely:

"Coated with wax (give name of wax)."

B.  Licenses and Quotas:

None.

C.  Currency issues:

None.

D.  Pest and plant disease restrictions:

The export of apples, pears and cherries to India requires an import permit (IP) that will detail the specific phytosanitary requirements and any additional declaration(s) (AD) that must appear on the phytosanitary certificate (PC). 

The NHC urges shippers to work closely with their Indian customers to obtain the correct paperwork.

E.  Solid Wood Packing Material (SWPM) Regulations:

Please refer to the SWPM section of the NHC's Technical Bulletins and Industry Advice.

F.  Other requirements:

A certificate of origin must be presented to Customs at the time of import.  This certificate should mention the order number, container number, port of discharge, buyers name and product description.

VI. SUBSIDIES

None.

VII.  MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY

Northwest Cherry Growers, Pear Bureau Northwest and Washington Apple Commission:

Keith Sunderlal
The SCS Group
New Delhi Metro, India
Voice:  011-91-124-434-4500
Fax:     011-91-124-434-4501
E-mail:  apples@scs-group.com or usapears@scs-group.com 

VIII.  OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:

Governmental: 

IX. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Published reports from India in May 2008 indicate that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is investigating certain importers of fresh apples for possible customs violations.  Alleged is under-invoicing to evade full payment of duty.

Special thanks to
FAS Field Office - India

105 South 18th Street, Suite 105
Yakima, Washington 98901, USA
Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615

E-mail general@nwhort.org