Lentils

Country
India (IN)
Scientific Name
Lens culinaris
Group
Grains / Seeds
End use
Consumption
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 pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.
Phosphine treatment
 
PLEASE NOTE THE TRIAL IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD. NO NEW IN-TRANSIT PHOSPHINE FUMIGATION PLANS OR PHOSPHINE FUMIGATIONS OF PRODUCTS PRE-SHIPMENT WILL BE ENDORSED ON PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES. PRODUCTS MUST BE TREATED WITH THE METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION SCHEDULE AS DETAILED IN THE TREATMENT SECTION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
 
Pre-shipment phosphine fumigation treatment for bulk containerised products, and pre-shipment or in-transit phosphine fumigation treatment for products sent via bulk vessels, is currently being trialled. Fumigation treatment with phosphine is undertaken on a trial basis only and requires prior approval by the Grain and Seed Export Program. See the Treatment section below for further details.
 
Explanation of the endorsement
 
Endorsement 4552:
 
  • All consignments must be free from India's quarantine weed seeds as per Schedule VIII of PQ Order 2003. Exporter must provide a laboratory analysis certificate attesting to the endorsement and to present to the Authorised Officer at time of inspection.
  • In Addition, visual inspection by the Authorised Officer must be undertaken as per instructional material for endorsing freedom from the following quarantine weed seeds.
  • Visual inspection by an Authorised Officer is sufficient to endorse freedom from soil (as per normal tolerances).
  • A laboratory analysis certificate is required to endorse freedom of Stem and bulb nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) and is to be presented to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.
Where applicable, the exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the endorsement and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.

Each consignment is to be fumigated with methyl bromide or phosphine as outlined below.

Note: Fumigation treatment with phosphine is undertaken on a trial basis only and requires prior approval by the Grain and Seed Export Program.

Methyl bromide

  • 32 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 21 degrees Celsius or above at NAP as per the PQ Order 2003;

OR

The Indian NPPO accepts the following dosage compensation for methyl bromide fumigation applied at temperatures between 11 and 21 degrees Celsius: 

  • 40 grm/m3 at 16 - 20 degrees Celsius for 24 hours at NAP;

OR

  • 48 grm/m3 at 11 - 15 degrees Celsius for 24 hours at NAP.

Note: Methyl bromide fumigation is not permitted at temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius or below. Dosage compensation is not permitted for temperatures above 21 degrees Celsius.

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

Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.
 
Phosphine (trial)
Pre-shipment phosphine fumigation treatment for bulk containerised products, and pre-shipment or in-transit phosphine fumigation treatment for products sent via bulk vessels, is currently being trialled. Consignments are to be treated with phosphine at Australian approved label rates, subject to prior approval by the Grain and Seed Export Program. Phosphine fumigation is to be undertaken:
  • Prior to departure if products are containerised; or
  • In-transit or prior to departure if products are exported bulk in bulk vessels.
     
For phosphine treatment which is undertaken either onshore or in-transit, the licensed fumigator/exporter is to provide the Grain and Seed Export Program (Grain.Export@agriculture.gov.au) with the following information and obtain approval prior to the loading and departure of the vessel:
 
  • Permit issued by the APVMA allowing use of fumigant in-transit, and evidence of compliance with any other regulatory requirements including approvals by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), state/territory regulators, port authorities and ship's masters (for in-transit fumigation only)
  • Fumigation plan including re-circulation method and monitoring lines and their locations
  • Method of sealing holds during fumigation (for bulk vessels only)
  • Method of clearing the fumigant from the consignment
  • Method used to provide gas free certification

A treatment certificate from the licensed fumigator must be presented prior to the issuance of any government certificates and must contain:

  • Dosage (grm/m3), temperature (℃), and duration of treatment (days) in accordance with Australian label rates
  • Vessel name, destination and holds loaded
  • Commodity and quantity
  • Signed by a licensed fumigator with contact details provided
     
Pre-shipment fumigation:
The exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the treatment and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.
Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.

In-transit fumigation:
The exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the treatment and present it to the department at time of authorisation.
In-transit phosphine fumigation details may be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section as follows:

The phosphine fumigation of [commodity] onboard [enter vessel name] was conducted in-transit by a licensed fumigator at (g/m3) for (days) at (℃).

Note: If phosphine treatment is to be undertaken in-transit, consignment must be found free of live insects during phytosanitary inspection.

Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 4552)
1) The consignment is free from Stem and bulb nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci),
2) The consignment is free from quarantine weed seeds,
3) The consignment is free from soil.

Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, correspondence from NPPO dated 26 May 2022, advice from Post 9 June 2023.

10/05/2024 - Updated text in reference.
22/03/2024 - Explanation of endorsement 4552 text updated.
11/10/2023 - Update to treatment requirements to clarify pre-shipment phosphine fumigation also does not meet NPPO requirements.
09/06/2023 - Updated treatment requirements to note in-transit phosphine trial is currently on hold.
16/09/2022 - Updated treatment requirements to clarify treatment with phosphine is being undertaken on a trial basis only and Australian label rates are to be applied.
07/07/2022 - New phosphine treatment option added.

Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 14/08/2026