Grains Australia has welcomed the recent extension of tariff-free access for lentil exports to India, which is one of the world’s biggest consumers and importers of this pulse crop.

Tariff-free access for lentils to India will now continue to March 31 next year after the program, which has been effective since October 13, 2021, was set to expire at the end of next month.

The Indian Government advised of the extension via a notification dated December 21, 2023. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was formally notified of the extension through Australia’s Agriculture Counsellor in New Delhi.

Grains Australia, an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), is responsible for vital industry services and functions that improve the industry’s competitiveness and profitability.

Grains Australia Pulse Council chair Peter Wilson says the zero-tariff extension represents a great opportunity for Australian producers both now and for the 2024 growing season.

“It provides instructive market signals for Australian lentil growers, who can plan their cropping programs with greater confidence,” Mr Wilson says.

Grains Australia general manager trade and market access, John Ackerman, also welcomes the development with the Indian Government.

“India is a historically valuable market for Australian lentils and other grains, and Grains Australia continues to work collaboratively with industry to strengthen ties with this important trading partner,” Dr Ackerman added.

India, which has a population of more than 1.4 billion people, is one of the world’s largest consumers and importers of lentils, and Canada and Australia are India’s main sources of lentil imports.

Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) tariffs on lentils had previously received a 50 per cent reduction of the most-favoured nation (MFN) tariff (at 30 per cent) within an annual quota of 150,000 tonnes.