Ban on apple imports lifted for all Indian ports

The Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has released a notification regarding the lifting of the ban on the import of apples, which means apples can again be imported by all ports in India. The notification reads that “In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of FT (D&R) Act, 1992, read with paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, as amended from time to time, the Government hereby amends the Import Policy Conditions of apples under Exim code 0808 10 00 of Chapter 08 of ITC (HS), 2012.”



The effect of this notification is that the import of apples covered under EXIM code 08081000 is allowed through sea ports and airports in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Cochin; and land ports and airports in Delhi. The import of apples will also be allowed through India’s land borders.

The ban, which had been introduced by the government as a form of non-tariff barrier aimed at protecting Indian producers after receiving pressure from domestic transporters, had been fought in court by a number of importers.

After a period with no shipments at all, Abraham Philip, President of the Cochin Custom House Agents Association, believes that everything will slowly go back to normal. “Before the ban, we were receiving between 60 and 100 containers and after the lifting, imports are slowly resuming. It will all depend on the importers now.”