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Govt reimposes import permit for primary farm items

The government on Monday reimposed import permits and made phyto-sanitary clearance mandatory for primary agricultural products like plants, fruits and seeds in a bid to check their unrestricted import following dismantling of quantitative restrictions.

The ministry of agriculture in a notification has said that "no consignment shall now be imported even for consumption without an import permit and an official phyto-sanitary certificate".

However, cut flowers, garlands, bouquets, fruits and vegetables weighing less than two kg and imported for personnel consumption have been exempted.

The government has thereby amended the Plants, Fruits and Seeds (Regulation of Import into India) Order 1992. The amendment will come into force from June 1, this year.

The relaxation of import permit for certain items, including import of mushrooms spawn culture, by 100 per cent export-oriented units and tissue culture materials of any plant origin and flower seeds shall however continue as before.

The government had last week restricted the entry of 300 sensitive items to 11 entry points in the country.

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