India’s rules for importing plant and plant products are unique in that they distinguish between products for which import is: i) prohibited (Schedule-IV) ii) restricted and permissible only by authorised institutions with additional declarations special conditions (Schedule-V) iii) permitted with additional declarations and special conditions (Schedule-VI) iv) permissible on the basis of a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country (Schedule-VII)
These rules are laid out in India’s Plant Quarantine Order, where products falling within these categories are specified in Schedules IV through VII. In effect, Indian maintains a ‘positive list’ of plants and plant products that can be imported, which differs from places such as the EU that maintain negative lists, identifying only those products that cannot be imported. As a rule of thumb, you should consider products as being increasingly easier to export – that is, subject to fewer restrictions – as you ascend from Schedule-IV (banned) to Schedule-VII. These rules are laid out in India’s Plant Quarantine Order, where products falling within these categories are specified in Schedules IV through VII. In effect, Indian maintains a ‘positive list’ of plants and plant products that can be imported, which differs from places such as the EU that maintain negative lists, identifying only those products that cannot be imported. As a rule of thumb, you should consider products as being increasingly easier to export – that is, subject to fewer restrictions – as you ascend from Schedule-IV (banned) to Schedule-VII.