Temporary removal of import restrictions and duties on yellow peas to India

The Indian Government has announced that yellow peas (HS code 0713.10.10) will be exempt from import duties until the 31 March 2024. The minimum import price and port restrictions on yellow peas have also been temporarily removed until 31 March 2024, facilitating trade. India is a major producer and consumer of pulses and imports help to meet a portion of its consumption needs. Peas were excluded from the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) and attract a most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 50% outside of this temporary measure.

Australia is an established exporter of peas, and in 2022 was the fifth largest exporter of peas globally. In 2022-23, Australia exported $77 million worth of dried peas to over 22 different markets around the globe (Figure 1). Australia’s main markets were China (52%), Sri Lanka (12%), Bangladesh (12%), and Malaysia (9%).

Figure 1 – Australia’s export markets for dried peas by share of export value in 2022-23FY

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The Indian Government announces changes to trade through their eGazette website. The gazette announcing the temporary reduction of duties for yellow peas was released on December 7th, 2023, under Gazette ID CG-DL-E-07122023-250479. A second gazette announcing the amended import policy for yellow peas was released on December 8th, 2023, under ID CG-DL-E-08122023-250508.

Austrade has more information about Doing business in India | Explore markets.

The Australian Government’s network of Agriculture Counsellors was consulted in writing this article. More information about the Agriculture Counsellor network, including contact details, are available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.