Following years of negotiations, India has authorised imports of Chilean walnuts. Details of the import protocol have not yet been released but its is expected that shipments will be required to undergo methyl bromide fumigation, in common with walnut shipments from other countries to India.
Announcing the news, the Chilean Walnut Commission praised the efforts of the Agriculture Ministry, Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG), Odepa and ProChile in negotiating the deal.
It said one of the initiatives that had helped to finalise the agreement was the promotion organised by the Chilean embassy in Delhi recently which included cooking demonstrations and the distribution of Walnuts from Chile marketing material to the Indian authorities and importers.
The Committee added that negotiations on the establishment of a free trade agreement between Chile and India would continue, as would work to agree an alternative treatment to fumigation.
