Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

US, Australia, NZ, China, Japan ban import of Indian fruits

Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the United States have restricted the import of Indian fruits due to 'undesirable' pests in them, Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Replying to queries during the Question Hour, the minister said these countries have asked for special treatment on this account before they could allow the import of Indian fruits. He said the Indian government has taken up the matter with these countries and was negotiating on their exact requirements.

Besides export of other fruits, India is the biggest exporter of mangoes in the world, the season for which begins in May.

Cutting across party lines, several members of Parliament said developed countries were in fact out to erect barriers against the import of Indian agro-products to their countries by invoking sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. There has never been a uniformity in slapping these measures which are being used as trade barriers against India, the MPs said.

But, Ajit Singh insisted that the SPS measures could be imposed on the scientific basis and as per provisions of the World Trade Organisation, it should be transparent and non-discriminatory.

India too had imposed SPS restrictions on the import of some fruits from other countries finding that they carried 'exotic' pests and diseases. Such consignments were either destroyed or sent back after following the prescribed plant quarantine procedure.

However, fruits which can be freed from pests and diseases by giving some treatment are permitted to enter the country, Singh said.

India has created quarantine facilities at ten airports, ten sea ports and nine inland locations besides strengthening the SPS measures to check the entry of pest or disease-ridden agro-products in the country.

ALSO READ:
The Rediff Budget Special
Money
Business News