The Commerce Ministry notified tariff rate quotas for apples, kiwifruit, and Manuka honey from New Zealand on Monday. These rules start on October 20, 2026. "The procedure for allocation of TRQ under the India- New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is notified," the DGFT said. India set these quotas to protect farmers.
With the India-New Zealand free trade agreement set to be effective on October 20, the Commerce Ministry on Monday laid out a procedure to allocate concessional duty-based quotas for imports of apples, kiwifruit, and Manuka honey from the island nation.
Under the pact, India is providing Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) in a calibrated manner for apples, kiwifruit, Manuka Honey and Albumins, along with Minimum Import Price (MIP) provisions and other safeguard measures.
This approach ensures calibrated imports while protecting the domestic farmers' interests.
"The procedure for allocation of TRQ under the India- New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is notified," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a public notice.
India is allowing specified quantities of these products to enter at concessional import duty rates under the pact.
According to the notice, these provisions will take effect on October 20, 2026.
For apples, there will be no quota in the first year. The quota will be 35,000 tonnes in the second year, rising to 37,500 tonnes in the third, 40,000 tonnes in the fourth and 42,500 tonnes in the fifth.
From the sixth year onwards, it will be 45,000 tonnes a year. These imports will attract a 25 per cent duty, provided their cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value is at least USD 1.25 per kg. The annual import window will run from April 1 to August 31.
At present, India has a 50 per cent import duty on apples.
For kiwifruit, there will be no quota in the first year. The quota will start at 8,000 tonnes in the second year and rise to 9,750 tonnes in the third, 11,500 tonnes in the fourth and 13,250 tonnes in the fifth.
From the sixth year onwards, it will be 15,000 tonnes a year. Imports under this quota will be duty-free if their CIF value is at least USD 1.80 per kg. The import window will run from April 1 to October 15 each year.
Similarly, for albumins, a category of protein products, the quota will be 200 tonnes in the first year, 1,500 tonnes in the second, 2,000 tonnes in the third and 2,500 tonnes in the fourth.
From the fifth year onwards, it will be 3,000 tonnes a year. These imports will attract an 11 per cent duty and can take place throughout the year.
For Manuka honey, it said, certified by New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries, the quota will be 40 tonnes in the first year and 200 tonnes annually from the second year onwards, with a specified CIF value.
New Zealand will allocate these quotas to its exporters or producers by issuing export certificates. Each certificate must include details of the product, quantity allowed and designated Indian importer.
The total quantity covered by these certificates must stay within the quota for each product.
"A TRQ authorisation shall be valid only for the quota year in which it is issued, and imports against it shall be permitted only within the quota window. Any unutilised quantity shall lapse on expiry of the authorisation," it added.