With no let-up in the spiralling prices of onions, the Government on Monday relaxed the import norms of the bulb by allowing fumigation in India up to November 30, 2014.

"Consignments of imported onions, which arrive in Indian port without fumigation and endorsement to that effect on the phytosanitary certificate, would be fumigated in India by the importer through an accredited treatment provider,” said an official release.

The consignments would be inspected thoroughly by quarantine officials and released only if found free from pests and diseases of concern to India, it added.

“The consignments of onions for consumption will not be subjected to the four times penal fees on account of non-compliance of conditions of import,'’ the release said.Fumigation is done to get rid of pests by using a technique that either poisons or suffocates the pests.