The Indian government has amended its Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, with two separate amendments published in the Official Gazette. These changes introduce new regulations for the import of dried plums from France and wood from Canada. Both of these amendments were published in notifications dated January 28, 2025.
Birch, Walnut and Cherry Wood from Canada
The Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) (First Amendment) Order, 2025 introduces new regulations for importing wood (with or without bark) from Canada for three tree species:
I. Birch (Betula spp.) Wood
Shipments must be declared free from the bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius).
II. Cherry (Prunus spp.) Wood
Imported cherry wood must be declared free from the grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus).
III. Walnut (Juglans spp.) Wood
All imports of Walnut wood, Cherry wood and birch wood from Canada shall be subject to heat treatment at 56°C (core temperature) for 30 minutes or other treatment approved by the Plant Protection Adviser. This must be documented on the Phytosanitary Certificate of the country of origin or re-export.
Dried Plums from France
The Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) (Second Amendment) Order, 2025 specifically addresses the import of dried plums for consumption from France. It mandates that shipments must be declared free from several pests, including the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella), apricot chalci (Eurytoma samsonovi), tobacco moth (Ephestia elutella), and Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella). To ensure this, the dried plums must undergo a specific treatment process:
- Drying at 78°C for 24 hours to a moisture level of 21%.
- Rehydration in hot water at 80°C to achieve a 35% moisture level.
- Pasteurization in an oven at 75°C for 45 minutes at the core of the product.
This treatment must be endorsed on the Phytosanitary Certificate issued in France or country of re-export.
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