EU lifts 7-month ban on Indian mangoes
21 Jan 2015 12:14 AM GMT
The EU on Tuesday decided to lift a seven-month-long ban on the import of mangoes from India after the world’s biggest producer made significant improvements in plant health controls and certification system, clearing the way for them to return to the 28-member bloc by March.
However, the prohibition on the import of vegetables from India will be reviewed at later stage after collecting more evidence, the EU said in a statement. A European Commission committee meeting in Brussels voted to lift the ban on mangoes today.
“A proposal by the Commission to lift the import ban of mango fruits from India was today endorsed by Member State experts meeting at the relevant Regulatory Committee concerned with Plant Health,” the statement said. “An audit carried out by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office in India in September 2014 showed significant improvements in the phytosanitary export
certification system.
The European Union’s “temporary ban” came into force on May 1, 2014 and was to remain effective until December 2015 after authorities in Brussels found consignments of the premium Alphonso mangoes infested with fruit flies that they feared could damage European salad crops. After today’s vote, the EU said, “India has also provided assurances that appropriate measures are now available to ensure that the exports of mango fruits are free from quarantine pest, like the fruit flies not known to occur in the Union.
“The measures will allow the import of mango fruits before the start of the next import season in March 2015,” the statement said.
However, the prohibition on the import of vegetables from India will be reviewed at later stage after collecting more evidence, the EU said in a statement. A European Commission committee meeting in Brussels voted to lift the ban on mangoes today.
“A proposal by the Commission to lift the import ban of mango fruits from India was today endorsed by Member State experts meeting at the relevant Regulatory Committee concerned with Plant Health,” the statement said. “An audit carried out by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office in India in September 2014 showed significant improvements in the phytosanitary export
certification system.
The European Union’s “temporary ban” came into force on May 1, 2014 and was to remain effective until December 2015 after authorities in Brussels found consignments of the premium Alphonso mangoes infested with fruit flies that they feared could damage European salad crops. After today’s vote, the EU said, “India has also provided assurances that appropriate measures are now available to ensure that the exports of mango fruits are free from quarantine pest, like the fruit flies not known to occur in the Union.
“The measures will allow the import of mango fruits before the start of the next import season in March 2015,” the statement said.
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