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On April 1, 2025, Japan formally lifted the mandatory aflatoxin testing requirements on U.S. almonds compliant with the new almond export protocol.

Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) intends to mandate allergy labeling on cashew nuts from the current recommended status. The CAA also intends to add pistachios to the recommended allergy labeling category.

For marketing year (MY) 2024/2025 (August-July), post forecasts India’s almond production marginally lower at 4,150 metric tons (MT) (shelled basis), compared to last MY estimates.

India is the world’s most populous country and boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world. As Indian households continue to reach higher levels of consumer spending, imported agricultural products are becoming more accessible to a larger number of people.

FAS New Delhi (Post) forecasts India’s market year (MY) 2023/2024 (August-July) almond production lower at 4,200 metric tons (MT) (kernel-weight basis), 800 MT lower compared to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) official MY 2022/2023 estimate of 5,000 MT.

On September 5, 2023, and just in time for the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Summit, India’s Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 53/2023 (Customs), officially notifying the lifting of retaliatory tariffs imposed in 2019 on U.S.-origin almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils, and walnuts effective September 6, 2023.

On February 1, 2023, India’s Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue issued Notification No. 02/2023-Customs in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Subsection (i) (official gazette), whereby it sets the import duty tariff rate for pecans, HS code 0802.9900, at 30 percent, effective April 1, 2023.

On February 1, 2023, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India presented its annual Union Budget to the Lok Sabha (lower parliament house) for Indian fiscal year 2023/2024 (April 1-March 31). In its Finance Bill, 2023 (No. 02/2023-Customs), the Finance Ministry announced changes in customs and central excise duty rates for various commodities, including pecans.

Japan has a well-developed food retail market that demands high-quality, high-value agricultural and food products. Despite reduced economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, trade data show that agricultural imports have remained resilient.

On October 13, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) opened a public comment period for the proposed revision to allergy labeling requirements for walnuts in Japan’s Food Labeling Standards. CAA will accept comments in Japanese through November 12, 2022.

FAS New Delhi (Post) forecasts marketing year (MY) 2022/23 (August-July) Indian almond imports (shelled-basis) at 148,000 metric tons (MT) a slight decrease from MY 2021/22, as food inflation volatility, rupee depreciation, and global shipping challenges are likely to persist in the near term, impacting price.

On June 17, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW)/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued direction F. No: STD/SP_08/A1.2022/N-01-Part (1) to operationalize the draft Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Amendment Regulations (2022).