Australia allows import of Indian pomegranates

    Kolkata, Sep 10 (PTI) India will now be able to export
pomegranates to Australia for the first time if certain
biosecurity conditions are met, a senior diplomat said on
Thursday.
    The development comes after the completion of an
import protocol for fresh pomegranates from India, which
followed an import risk assessment involving significant
collaboration and discussion between Indian and Australian
authorities, an official statement said.
    There are some biosecurity conditions which must be
met by the Australian importers, it added.
    "It is another positive development in the Australia-
India agricultural relationship. India is well placed to
satisfy Australia's growing demand for pomegranates, which is
fuelled by their use in restaurants and cooking shows," High
Commissioner to India, Barry O'Farrell, said.
    "While Australia already produces pomegranates, India
will meet the shortfall in the Australian market," O'Farrell
said.
    In two-way trade in agricultural products, India can
import Australian walnuts, almonds and beer made from malting
barley, among other things.
    Australia had earlier allowed import of Indian mangoes
and table grapes. PTI BSM
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)