The Indian government has amended its Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, with a third amendment specifically addressing apple imports from Brazil. This update introduces stricter phytosanitary requirements to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases. This notification was issued on January 30, 2025.
The amendment revises the existing entry for “Pome fruits (Apple)” in Schedule VI of the Plant Quarantine Order. For fresh apples imported from Brazil intended for consumption, the following additional declarations and special conditions now apply:
Mandatory Declarations
The Phytosanitary Certificate accompanying apple shipments from Brazil must declare the shipment is free from the following pests:
- Anastrepha fraterculus (South American fruit fly)
- Anastrepha serpentina (Sapodilla fruit fly)
- Grapholita molesta (Oriental fruit moth)
- Pantomorus cervinus (Fuller’s rose beetle)
- Peridroma saucia (Pearly underwing moth)
- Phytophthora cryptogea (Tomato foot rot)
- Pseudococcus calceolariae (Scarlet mealybug)
- Pseudococcus comstocki (Comstock mealybug)
- Pseudomonas viridiflava (Bacterial leaf blight of tomato (USA))
- Venturia pyrina (Black spot of pear)
Special Conditions of Import
In addition to the pest-free declarations, the apples must undergo pre-shipment cold treatment. The specified treatment options are:
- 0°C or below for 13 days, or
- 0.55°C or below for 14 days, or
- 1.1°C or below for 18 days.
This cold treatment must be followed by in-transit refrigeration. Crucially, the details of the cold treatment must be endorsed on the Phytosanitary Certificate issued in Brazil.
These stricter regulations are designed to bolster India’s biosecurity and protect its apple industry from potential infestations. The specified pests are known to be harmful to apple crops and other fruit trees. The mandatory cold treatment and detailed declarations aim to minimize the risk of these pests being introduced into India through imported apples.
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