The Central Government has amended the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, modifying the import conditions for citrus fruits from Spain. The Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) (Fifth Amendment) Order, 2025, aims to streamline import processes while maintaining stringent plant health standards.
Removal of Certain Restrictions on General Citrus from Spain
The amendment removes specific import conditions previously applied to all citrus fruits (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, mandarins, etc.) from Spain, specifically regarding the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata).
This removes the previous options of specific cold treatments or methyl bromide fumigation for all citrus and specifically imposes them only on oranges.
Revised Import Conditions for Spanish Oranges
The amendment introduces new, specific import conditions for Citrus sinensis (oranges) from Spain. These conditions require that the oranges be “free from” the Mediterranean fruit fly.
To meet this requirement, Spain must provide:
- Pest-free area status for the Mediterranean fruit fly, as per international standards.
- Pre-shipment or in-transit cold treatment at 2°C or below for 16 continuous days, or 3°C or below for 20 continuous days, against the Mediterranean fruit fly, adhering to international standards.
- Methyl bromide fumigation at 32 g/m³ for 2 hours at 21°C or above, at Normal Atmospheric Pressure (NAP) or equivalent, against the Mediterranean fruit fly.
The chosen treatment must be endorsed on the Phytosanitary Certificate at the country of origin or re-export.
This move represents a specific change in import regulations, and will alter the procedures required to import oranges from Spain.
