Relaxation of conditions for the import of Onions into India

High Commission of India, Canberra, announces the relaxation of conditions for the import of Onions into India. India has been decided to allow relaxation from the condition of fumigation and additional declaration on Phytosanitary Certificate as per the Plant Quarantine Order 2003, for imports up to 15 December 2020 on the following conditions:

i. Such consignments of imported onions which arrive in Indian ports without fumigation and endorsement to that effect on the PSC, would be fumigated in India by the importer through an accredited treatment provider. The consignment would be inspected thoroughly by quarantine officials and released only if found free from pests and diseases of concern to India;
ii. Relax the requirement of endorsement of Additional Declaration in the Phytosanitary Certificate;
iii. During the inspection, if Smut (Urocystis cepulae) or dry rot (Embellisio allii) is intercepted, the particular container to be rejected and deported;
iv. If stem and bulbs nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) or Onion maggot (Hylemia antiqua) is detected, these should be eliminated through fumigation and the consignments to be released with no additional inspection fee;
v. An undertaking to be obtained from the importers that the Onions will be used only for consumption and not for propagation;
vi. Such consignments of onions for consumption will not be subjected to the four times additional inspection fees on account of non-compliance of conditions of import under PQ order, 2003.