Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 3/26/2004

**GAIN Report Number:** IN4028

IN4028

**India**

**Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety**

**Revision to Import Requirements for Almonds**

**2004**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Chad R. Russell

U.S. Embassy, FASNEWDELHI

**Prepared by:**

Michael Riedel

**Report Highlights:**

Short-term relief granted to exporters of US almonds to India.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

New Delhi \[IN1\]

\[IN\]

"Mission" refers to the US Embassy, New Delhi.

1\. Summary: On March 23, 2004, the Government of India (GOI) issued a
letter (see paragraphs 5 and 6) that brings short-term relief to
exporters of US almonds to India, which have been severely impacted by
new import regulations. Almonds that are shipped from the United States
no later than May 4, 2004, may be fumigated with Phosphine before
departure and are subject to inspection and fumigation by methyl bromide
upon arrival in India, as under the old regulation. The Mission
continues to work closely with the GOI and Washington agencies to arrive
at long-term resolutions to this and other issues related to India's new
regulation. End Summary.

2\. Background. On January 1, 2004, the GOI implemented new import
procedures and plant protection and quarantine requirements, which,
among other things, severely disrupted US almond exports to India,
valued at \$81 million in 2003. (see GAIN reports IN3126 & IN4012)

3\. The Mission interceded with appropriate GOI ministries, informing
them that they were not in compliance with WTO notification procedures
and offering to consult with them on these new regulations.
Subsequently, the GOI notified the new regulation to the WTO on March 4,
2004, but did not suspend it, as requested. A USDA technical team held
discussions with interlocutors at the Ministries of Commerce and
Agriculture on March 11 and 12, and a short-term solution for almonds
was reached, confirmed by this March 23 GOI letter.

4\. Technically, this letter is a continuation of the pre-January 1
procedures. According to Ministry of Agriculture interlocutors, all
imports of dried fruits and nuts, including almonds, were inspected and
fumigated with methyl bromide under a 1927 regulation. The Mission will
continue to closely monitor arrivals of US almonds.

5\. The text of the GOI's March 23 letter follows in paragraph 6. The
letter is addressed to the Ministry of Agriculture's plant protection
advisor; is signed by Mr. Amand Shah, a Deputy Secretary in the same
ministry; and is copied to the Indian embassy in Washington, this
Mission, and Dr. Reddy, Joint Director in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Note that dates within the text are Indian-style, so that 4-5-2004 means
May 4, 2004.

6\. BEGIN TEXT Subject: Decision on release of Almond consignments being
imported from USA. I am directed to invite your attention on above
subject and to say that it has been decided that almond export
consignments, already shipped or to be shipped from USA, before 4-5-2004
may be allowed Plant Quarantine clearance on the basis of Phosphine
fumigation at their end and inspection/methyle bromide treatment on
arrival in India. The above arrangement shall apply to all consignments
of almonds which are shipped from USA on or before 4-5-2004. You are
requested to inform all Plant Quarantine Stations and take other
necessary action to ensure compliance, under intimation to this
Ministry. END TEXT