Agricultural imports face India's highest duty rates — many products carry BCD of 30–100%+ — plus mandatory phytosanitary, FSSAI, and quarantine clearances. Understanding which crops are restricted, which have quota-based access, and how to get advance PQIS clearance is critical for agri importers.
Key Regulators for Agricultural Imports
| Authority | Role | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Quarantine and Inspection Service (PQIS) | Plant health inspection; phytosanitary clearance | Phytosanitary certificate from origin; PQIS clearance at port |
| FSSAI | Food safety for all food items including agricultural produce | FSSAI NOC |
| APEDA | Oversees quality and some quota management | APEDA registration for some categories |
| Department of Agriculture | Import policy and STE (State Trading Enterprise) channels | Import license if restricted |
Agricultural Duty Rates — India
| Product | BCD | IGST | Import Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 50% | 0% | Canalized (FCI only) |
| Rice | 40–80% | 0% | Restricted/Free depending on variety |
| Edible oils (crude) | 100% | 5% | Free |
| Edible oils (refined) | 100% | 5% | Free |
| Cotton (raw) | 0–10% | 5% | Free |
| Apples | 50% | 12% | Free |
| Cashew nuts | 0–75% | 5% | Free |
| Pulses (lentils, chickpeas) | 0–30% | 0% | Free / STE depending |
Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements
All plant and plant-origin imports need a phytosanitary certificate from the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country, attesting:
- Goods are free from specified pests and diseases
- Compliance with India's import conditions for that species
- Treatment applied (if required) — e.g., methyl bromide fumigation
At Indian ports, PQIS officers inspect and may retain samples for testing. Non-compliant consignments face fumigation at importer's cost or re-export/destruction.
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