Onion Seeds Export Allowed with Permit

· Onion Seeds Shifted to Restricted List from Prohibited List

The government has put onion seeds under the restricted category from the earlier prohibited category. It essentially means that now there is a relaxation in the ban imposed on the export of onion seeds.

“The export policy of onion seeds has been put under ‘Restricted’ category, with immediate effect,” stated Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Director General of Foreign Trade in a notification dated May 13.

According to industry experts now export of onion seeds would be possible with government’s special intervention. One of the members associated with the industry told that the onion seeds are available in ample quantity and in the last few years majority of farmers are cultivating their own seeds.

"We have seeds that can cater to the needs of farmers in India and neighboring countries. Farmer Producer Companies have produced their own seed banks and many seed companies have brought in their seed in the market,” he said requesting anonymity.

[DGFT Notification No. 05/2015-20 dated 13 May 2022]

Effect of this Notification: The Export Policy of Onion Seeds has been put under 'Restricted' category, with immediate effect.

Subject: - Amendment in Export Policy of Onions Seeds

S.O. (E) In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended, read with Para 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, the Central Government hereby makes following amendments in the Notification No. 43/2015-20 dated 29.10.2020 related to export of Onion Seeds:

S.No	lTC (HS) Code	Description	Present Policy	Revised Policy
73	12099130	Onion Seeds	Prohibited	Restricted

(Issued from File No. 01/9l/180/923/AM21/EC/E-23941)