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The\u00a0Center on\u00a0December 17 has\u00a0extended\u00a0the\u00a0relaxed norms for onion imports till January 31,\u00a02021 in order\u00a0to\u00a0increase\u00a0the\u00a0domestic supply and check the retail prices of the key kitchen staple.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
To facilitate import of onion, the\u00a0central\u00a0government had on October 21 relaxed the\u00a0conditions for fumigation and extra\u00a0declaration on the Phytosanitary Certificate (PSC) under the Plant Quarantine Order (PQ), 2003 for import up to December 15.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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In an official statement, the Ministry\u00a0of\u00a0Agriculture\u00a0said it has decided to extend the relaxation for imports up to January 31,\u00a0next year\u00a0in the light of public concern over high prices of onion in the market.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stating that the relaxation will be subject to certain conditions, the\u00a0agricultural\u00a0ministry said the consignments of imported onions, which arrive in Indian port without fumigation and such endorsement on the\u00a0Phytosanitary Certificate\u00a0(PSC), would be fumigated in\u00a0the nation\u00a0by the importer through an accredited treatment provider.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The consignment would be inspected thoroughly by quarantine officials and released only if found free from pests\u00a0&\u00a0diseases of concern to\u00a0the country.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Further, if smut or dry rot is intercepted during the inspection, the particular container will be rejected and deported.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In case of pests like stem and bulbs nematode or onion maggot being detected, these should be eliminated through fumigation and the consignment released without additional inspection fee, it\u00a0said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0agricultural\u00a0ministry\u00a0also\u00a0said that the conditions also stipulate that an undertaking should be obtained from importers that the onions will be used only for consumption and not for propagation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Also, such consignments of onion for consumption will not be subjected to the fourfold\u00a0additional inspection fee for non-compliance of conditions of import under the\u00a0Plant Quarantine Order\u00a0(PQ Order), 2003, it noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Imports are being undertaken by private trade and\u00a0therefore\u00a0the onion prices have started moderating to some extent in some parts of the country with the arrival of the new crop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For instance,\u00a0within\u00a0the New Delhi, onion prices are ruling below at\u00a0Rs\u00a040 per kg on\u00a0December 17\u00a0from the\u00a0extent\u00a0of\u00a0Rs\u00a065-70 per kg in October.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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