Chickpeas

Country
Pakistan (PK)
Scientific Name
Cicer arietinum
Group
Grains / Seeds
End use
Consumption
NPPO Details
Ministry of Food Security & Research, Department of Plant Protection
Relevant Web Addresses
www.plantprotection.gov.pk
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Yes
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Refer below
Protocol Market No
Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.
 

A copy of the import permit must be presented to an Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


Pakistan's NPPO have begun issuing electronic import permits with a QR code on the top right in lieu of a signature. Import permits in this format are valid. Import permits in original paper format remain valid.

Note:
  • Pakistan's import permits may be issued with varying additional declarations and methyl bromide treatment requirements. Exporters must refer to the import permit to verify endorsements and methyl bromide treatment requirements for their consignment.
  • Exporters must refer to their import permit and confirm the interpretation of the import permit requirements with their importer in Pakistan.
  • Some permits require additional declarations and others require additional declarations as "This is to certify that the plants, plant products or other regulated articles described herein have been inspected and/or tested according to appropriate official procedures and are considered to be free from the quarantine pests specified by the importing contracting party and to conform with the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing contracting party, including those for regulated non-quarantine pests". This is covered under the static statement and a phytosanitary certificate with no additional declarations will be issued.
  • When specified on the import permit, consignments containing viable chickpeas or other seeds must be treated as per the treatment section.
  • When specified on the import permit, consignments with Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei) detected must be treated as per the treatment section.
  • When specified on the import permit, consignments containing no viable chickpeas or other seeds may use Endorsements 632, 633, 5398, 6374 or a treatment endorsement as per the treatment section. Refer to the import permit.
  • Import permits may or may not require additional declarations for heat treatment or methyl bromide fumigation at 80 grm/m3 or 32 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 21C or 24C treatment endorsement. Depending on the import permit, exporters may request both an additional declaration and a treatment endorsement for their consignment or treatment only when additional declaration is covered by the static statement as stated under dot point 3.
Explanation of the endorsements


Endorsement 632:

  • A pest free area certificate is required for Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei).
  • The Authorised Officer must inspect and verify freedom from DPP regulated weed seeds.

Endorsement 633:

  • A crop inspection certificate is required confirming freedom from Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei) in all crops from which the consignment was sourced.
  • The Authorised Officer must inspect and verify freedom from DPP regulated weed seeds.

Endorsement 5398:

  • A laboratory analysis certificate is required for Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei).
  • The Authorised Officer must inspect and verify freedom from DPP regulated weed seeds.

Endorsement 6374:

  • The import permit states that treatment is permitted in lieu of an additional declaration confirming freedom from Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei).
  • The Authorised Officer must inspect and verify freedom from DPP regulated weed seeds.

Where applicable, the exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the endorsement and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


Contaminating material

  • If specified on the import permit, consignment should be free from stored grain pests and other impurities including pest eaten damaged seed. Consignments are also to be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps.
  • "Pest eaten damaged seeds" is a commercial matter and does not apply to phytosanitary certification. 
  • The import permit requirement; "Should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps" is covered by the certifying statement on the phytosanitary certificate.
  • If specified on the import permit, a laboratory analysis certificate is required stating that the percentage of weed seeds and foreign matters is not greater than 0.4%.
  • If specified on the import permit, a Certificate as to Condition (GX46) stating that extraneous material does not exceed 0.4% may be issued.

Non-GMO certification

If certification is required (refer to import permit/NPPO notification), the exporter is responsible for ensuring that the consignment is accompanied by a Certificate as to Condition attesting that the consignment has not been genetically modified.

If requested, a Certificate as to Condition (Grain - GX46/Horticulture - HX46) may be issued for the consignment if specifically supported from information supplied by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) and where it is a government requirement of the importing country for non-GMO certification (refer to import permit/NPPO Notification).

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

When treatment is required, consignments are to be heat treated at appropriate temperature, humidity and for duration as per standard prescribed procedure.

The name of the fumigation facility should not be included in the phytosanitary certificate, regardless of the text on the import permit.

OR

Consignments must be fumigated with methyl bromide at:

  • 32 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 21 degrees Celsius or above;

OR

  • 40 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 16-20.9 degrees Celsius;

OR

  • 48 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 11-15.9 degrees Celsius;

OR

  • 56 grm/m3 for 72 hours at 10-10.9 degrees Celsius; 

If a different methyl bromide fumigation schedule is listed on an import permit, please contact the Grain and Seed Exports Program (Grain.Export@agriculture.gov.au).


OR

Consignment must be moist heat treated at:

  • 95 degrees Celsius at 50% relative humidity for 24 hours;

OR

  • 85 degrees Celsius at 50% relative humidity for 48 hours.

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.
 
Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 632)
1) Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei) is known not to occur in the area of production,
2) A representative sample was inspected and found to be free of DPP regulated weed seeds.

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 633)
1) The crop was inspected during active growth and found free from Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei),
2) A representative sample was inspected and found to be free of DPP regulated weed seeds.

Option 3 (EXDOC Endorsement 5398)
1) A representative sample, using ISTA guidelines, was found free through laboratory testing at an NPPO approved diagnostic laboratory of Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei),
2) A representative sample was inspected and found to be free of DPP regulated weed seeds.

Option 4 (EXDOC Endorsement 6374)
1) A representative sample was inspected and found to be free of DPP regulated weed seeds.
Import permits dated 1 April 2021, 9 September 2021, communications from NPPO received 22 October 2021 and 11 May 2022.
15/01/2025 - Update to treatment requirements.
13/01/2023 - Update to treatment requirements.
11/05/2022 - Update to notify electronic import permit format based on confirmation from NPPO.
08/03/2022 - Update to non-GMO requirements.
31/01/2022 - Indicated treatment facility name does not need to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate as per NPPO requirements.
14/10/2021 - Updated treatment and endorsement details
29/09/2021 - Updated Micor case based on NPPO requirements
17/05/2021 - Updated treatment details and added a statement in the general section on varying treatment requirements.
Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026