Govt relaxes apple import norms

Removing curbs on apple imports, the government today allowed inward shipments of the fruit through any port in the country.

Earlier, imports of the fruit were allowed through both sea ports and airports at Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Cochin; land port and airport in Delhi; and at India's land borders only.

"Port restriction for import of apples...is hereby removed," the directorate general of foreign trade said in a notification.

The move could help in increasing availability of the fruit in the domestic market and ease its prices.

Apple is the most heavily consumed imported fruit in India. India is world's third-largest producer of apples.

The fruit's production in the country is limited to the hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

India imports the fruit from the US, China, Chile, New Zealand, Italy, Iran and Afghanistan, among others.

During April-January 2018, India's apple imports stood at USD 298 million.