The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on October 22, 2026, issued the amendment under Para 2.92 and Appendix 2A of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023, for the inclusion of Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (Ind-NZ FTA).
The following has been stated:
• It has amended paragraph 2.92 and Appendix 2A of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP), 2023, with effect from October 20, 2026, to introduce the procedure for allocation of Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (Ind-NZ FTA). The TRQs cover apples under HS code 0808.10.00, with an in-quota duty of 25% for consignments having a CIF value of at least USD 1.25/kg and an annual quota increasing from 35,000 MT in Year 2 to 45,000 MT from Year 6 onwards, available from April 1 to August 31; kiwifruit under HS code 0810.50.00, with 0% in-quota duty for consignments having a CIF value of at least USD 1.80/kg and an annual quota increasing from 8,000 MT in Year 2 to 15,000 MT from Year 6 onwards, available from April 1 to October 15; albumins under HS codes 3502.11.00, 3502.19.00, 3502.20.00 and 3502.90.00, with an in-quota duty of 11% and quota increasing from 200 MT in Year 1 to 3,000 MT from Year 5 onwards; and New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)-certified Mānuka honey under ex-HS code 0409.00.00, with a CIF value of at least USD 20/kg but below USD 30/kg, with a quota of 40 MT in Year 1 and 200 MT from Year 2 onwards.
• Indian importers shall apply for TRQ authorisation through the DGFT Import Management System, referencing the relevant export certificate. The authorisation will specify the importer’s name and address, Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), Customs notification number, tariff item, applicable CIF/minimum import price slab where relevant, quantity and validity period. Applications shall also capture whether the importer is registered as a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise (MSME) for monitoring purposes under Annex 2A, Section C, Paragraph 7 of the Agreement. Authorisations will be issued electronically and transmitted to the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES), and imports under the TRQ will be permitted only after the quota is electronically debited in ICES.
• Year 1 runs from the date the Agreement enters into force until December 31, 2026, while each subsequent quota year comprises the twelve months commencing January 1. There is no final deadline for applying within a quota year; however, DGFT will monitor cumulative authorisations and stop issuing further authorisations once the applicable quota limit is reached. Each authorisation is valid only for the quota year in which it is issued; imports shall take place within the specified quota window where applicable, and unused quantities lapse upon expiry.
[Notification No. - 33 /2026-27]
