India: Hay Now - India Grants Market Access for US Alfalfa Hay

On January 11, 2021, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and the United States agreed to a framework that will implement market access for agricultural products from both countries. Among the successes, India agreed to remove for U.S.-origin alfalfa hay the heat treatment requirement and recognize the current U.S. pest mitigation methods for alfalfa hay. The Indian government also clarified (in writing) that the import of U.S. alfalfa hay for animal feed purposes will not require a non-genetically modified certificate. FAS New Delhi estimates that this market access success will allow U.S. alfalfa hay exports to India to reach $60 million by 2026 and supplement the domestic forage supply.