Apples

Country
India (IN)
Scientific Name
Malus domestica
Group
Fruit
End use
Fresh
NPPO Details
Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage; Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare
Relevant Web Addresses
http://www.ppqs.gov.in/
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit No
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Yes
Protocol Market No
Consignments are to be free from soil, pests and evidence of disease.


Quarantine pests of concern
  • Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni)
  • Northern Territory fruit fly (Bactrocera aquilonis)
  • Pear or Cherry slug (Caliroa cerasi)
  • Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata)
  • Codling moth (Cydia pomonella)
  • Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana)
  • Western flower thrips (Franklinella occidentalis)
  • Oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta)
  • Fuller's rose weevil (Pantomorus cervinus)
  • Vine calandra (Phlyctinus callosus)
  • Scarlet mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae)
  • Tomato root rot (Phytophthora cryptogea)
Explanation of fruit fly pest free areas (PFAs)

The following areas are recognised as pest free areas for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata):

  •              Tasmania
AND
Exporters sourcing fruit from the Riverland must present a State government certificate at the time of inspection which states all fruit was sourced from properties outside the suspension areas.
 
Where applicable, the exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the endorsement and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


Import of apples is allowed through sea ports and airports in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Cochin; and the land port and airport in Delhi. Import of apples is also allowed through India's land borders.

Non-GMO requirements:

India requires the goods are not genetically modified. The exporter is responsible for ensuring the consignment is accompanied by a Certificate as to Condition (Grain - GX46/Horticulture - HX46). The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has confirmed there are no approvals for commercial production of genetically modified cultivars of this product in Australia.

The following text must be added to the additional declaration field when a GX46/HX46 template is added to the RFP:

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator has advised the department that there has been no intentional release into the Australian environment of genetically modified product(s) listed on this certificate.

Fruit from a fruit fly area, or an area which is in outbreak, must undergo an appropriate treatment against Queensland fruit fly & Mediterranean fruit fly.

Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.
 

The exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the treatment and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.
 

Cold Treatment

Exporters have the option to carry out cold disinfestations treatments onshore immediately prior to export or in-transit (which must be completed before the consignment arrives in India) in accordance with the following treatment schedule.

Cold treatment schedules

For fruit sourced from WA or other parts of Australia with outbreaks of Mediterranean fruit fly), the fruit core temperature must be held at:
  • 0 degrees celsius or below for 10 days;
OR
  • 0.55 degrees celsius or below for 11 days;
OR
  • 1.1 degrees celsius or below for 12 days.
 
For fruit sourced from non pest free areas in Qld, NSW, Vic and SA or other parts of Australia with outbreaks of Queensland fruit fly, the fruit core temperature must be held at:
  • 0 degrees celsius or below for 13 days;
OR
  • 0.55 degrees celsius or below for 14 days;
OR
  • 1.1 degrees celsius or below for 18 days

Before commencing cold treatment, exporters must nominate the proposed cold treatment schedule.

Fruit must be pre-cooled to the nominated treatment temperature, or below, prior to commencing cold treatment.

Onshore cold treatment requirements
  • Onshore cold treatment must be supervised by an Authorised Officer with the appropriate job function
  • Details of treatment to be endorsed into the DISINFESTATION AND/OR DISINFECTION TREATMENT section of the phytosanitary certificate.
  • Temperature records are to be printed, signed, stamped and endorsed as “COMPLETED” by the Authorised Officer
  • Following onshore cold treatment, fruit must be refrigerated in-transit against Queensland fruit fly or Mediterranean fruit fly reinfestation.
In transit cold treatment requirements
  • Loading and sealing for in-transit cold treatment is to be conducted in accordance with the Australian phytosanitary treatment application standard for cold disinfestation treatment.
  • Loading and sealing for in-transit cold treatment is to be supervised by an Authorised Officer with the appropriate job function.
  • The calibration of the fruit pulp temperature sensors must occur immediately prior to loading and sealing of the container.
  • Once loaded and sealed the treatment start time occurs when all the fruit pulp temperature sensors are at, or below, the target treatment.
  • During loading, it is the exporter’s responsibility to ensure temperatures are maintained as close as possible to the target treatment temperature while sensors are being placed in the fruit.
Note: A calibration record/PEMS entry must be presented to the department at time of authorisation.
Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 2596)
1) A representative sample was inspected and found free of Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), Northern Territory fruit fly (Bactrocera aquilonis), Pear or Cherry slug (Caliroa cerasi), Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), Western flower thrips (Franklinella occidentalis), Oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta), Fuller's rose weevil (Pantomorus cervinus), Vine calandra (Phlyctinus callosus), scarlet mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae),Tomato root rot (Phytophthora cryptogea).
2) Northern Territory fruit fly (Bactrocera aquilonis),Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) are known not to occur in the area of production.

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 3324)
1) A representative sample was inspected and found free of Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), Northern Territory fruit fly (Bactrocera aquilonis), Pear or Cherry slug (Caliroa cerasi), Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), Western flower thrips (Franklinella occidentalis), Oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta), Fuller's rose weevil (Pantomorus cervinus), Vine calandra (Phlyctinus callosus), scarlet mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae),Tomato root rot (Phytophthora cryptogea).
2) The fruit has undergone preshipment cold disinfestation for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata).
3) The fruit is subject to intransit refrigeration.
 
Option 3 (EXDOC Endorsement 6281)
1) A representative sample was inspected and found free of Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), Northern Territory fruit fly (Bactrocera aquilonis), Pear or Cherry slug (Caliroa cerasi), Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), Western flower thrips (Franklinella occidentalis), Oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta), Fuller's rose weevil (Pantomorus cervinus), Vine calandra (Phlyctinus callosus), scarlet mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae),Tomato root rot (Phytophthora cryptogea).
2) The fruit is subject to in transit cold treatment for Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni).
6th Amendment of Indian Quarantine Order 2003 dated 27 April 2020
01/08/2023 - Update to in-transit cold treatment requirements
28/07/2022 - Update to non-GMO requirements.
05/02/2021 - Update to general requirements - inclusion of non-GM certification requirements
24/12/2020 - Update to import requirements - update to text related to fruit fly outbreak.
Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026