The government on Monday banned the import of apples if its imported price is less than Rs 50 per Kg.

“Import of apples…is prohibited wherever the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) import price is less than equal to Rs 50 per Kg,” the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

Minimum import price condition shall not be applicable for imports from Bhutan, it said.  In 2023, India imported apples worth $296 million against $385.1 million in 2022.

The main countries which export apples to India include the US, Iran, Brazil, UAE, Afghanistan, France, Belgium, Chile, Italy, Turkey, New Zealand, South Africa and Poland.