The seven-month ban on Indian mangoes, imposed last year by the European Union, has been lifted well in advance of the deadline set for the ban, which was originally till December 2015.
This came after an audit by the EU last September showed “significant improvements in the phytosanitary export certification system,” says an EC release. Shipments of mangoes from India, including the premium Alphonso mangoes, had been stopped last year after inspections found some consignments infested with fruit flies.
The proposal by the European Commission to lift the ban on mango imports received the endorsement of experts at a Member State meeting, the EU said. However, the ban has been lifted only on mangoes. Ban on taro, bitter gourd, snake gourd and eggplant remains in force.
The mango import season begins in April and lasts till June. Following the ban last year, British-Indian members of Parliament led by Keith Vaz campaigned hard to get it lifted.
“The EU ban was due to remain until December 2015 but today’s [Tuesday’s] vote shows that the hard work of the Indian authorities has paid off,” Britain’s Environment Minister Lord de Mauley said in a statement.
Small traders and importers of the fruit in the United Kingdom were hit last year. Welcoming the decision, Seema Malhotra, Labour MP, said, “We are delighted that the government and the EU have listened to us at last. Now everyone in Britain can enjoy delicious Indian mangoes once again.”
Yuthika Bhargava reports from New Delhi:
The EU accounts for more than 50 per cent of total exports of fruits and vegetables from India.
The U.K. is the main destination, followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
Reacting to the decision, M. Rafeeque Ahmed, president of exporters body FIEO, complimented the Commerce Ministry for resolving the issue in record time.
“The imposition of ban on mangoes did affect India’s exports of fresh fruits which declined from $ 307.38 million in April-November 2013 to $ 291.43 million in April-November 2014. Mango exports to EU suffered a major dent and went down from $ 8.9 million in 2013-14 to $ 1.07 million in 2014-15 [April-September period],” he said.
