The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notified the procedure for allocating Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) for imports of apples, kiwifruit, Manuka honey, and albumins from New Zealand, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. These provisions are set to take effect on October 20, 2026, coinciding with the entry into force of the India-New Zealand free trade agreement. The notice specifies that India will allow designated quantities of these products to enter at reduced import duty rates, subject to minimum price floors and other protective mechanisms.
For apples, the quota structure begins with no allocation in the first year, rising to 35,000 tonnes in the second year and reaching 45,000 tonnes annually from the sixth year onward. Imports within this quota will attract a 25 per cent duty, provided the landed cost meets a minimum threshold of USD 1.25 per kilogram, compared to the current 50 per cent import duty. The annual import window for apples will run from April 1 to August 31. Kiwifruit allocations begin at 8,000 tonnes in the second year and increase to 15,000 tonnes annually from the sixth year, with zero duty applied if the landed cost reaches USD 1.80 per kilogram.
Manuka honey, verified by New Zealand's primary industries ministry, will have a quota of 40 tonnes in the first year, expanding to 200 tonnes annually from the second year. Albumins, a category of protein products, will see quotas rising from 200 tonnes in the first year to 3,000 tonnes from the fifth year, attracting an 11 per cent duty. New Zealand will allocate these quotas to exporters by issuing export certificates that detail the product, quantity, and designated Indian importer.
According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the allocation procedure is intended to manage trade flows while shielding local agricultural sectors. The document notes that "This approach ensures calibrated imports while protecting the domestic farmers' interests." TRQ authorizations are valid only for the specific quota year in which they are issued, and any unused volume lapses upon the expiry of the authorisation. Imports must occur within the specified windows to remain eligible for the reduced rates.