EU threatens to ban import of fruits and vegetables
18 April 2014 11:59 PM GMT
Dismayed over harmful organisms in fresh fruits and vegetables, the European Union (EU) has threatened that if thing continues like this then they will ‘ban importing’ such products from India and will take necessary action as per the International law.
‘This is a serious concern regarding interceptions of harmful organisms in fresh fruits and vegetables exported to EU and we are bound to take action including ‘ban’ unless the situation improves,’ EU letter reads.
Worried over EU threat to ban export of fresh fruits and vegetables, which will have an impact in India’s economy in generating foreign revenue, the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) has assured the EU that India is fully committed to provide safe and pest free export of fresh fruits and vegetables to them and all necessary steps are being taken in this direction.
‘We have already took some firm step on quality assurance and have decided that from April 1, 2014, the export of fresh fruits and vegetables to the EU would be routed through Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) approved pack houses where in inspections, examinations, testing of export consignments will be conducted at approved pack houses under the supervision of Plant Quarantine personnel,’ a APEDA sources said.
He also said that NPPO will not issue ‘phytosanitary certificate’ for export consignments which do not meet the above requirement. ‘We have already conducting extensive sensitization programs to apprise the trade about the impending scenario and have been advised to gear up to meet the requirements,’ he added.
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