Brussels, 06/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 2 May, the European Commission indicated that, on the basis of the progress achieved by India in phytosanitary inspections, the EU would decide by the end of the year whether it would lift the embargo it has just introduced on imports of Indian mango. The same day, India threatened to challenge the EU decision on this ban at the WTO (see EUROPE 11047).
The measure, which entered into force on 1 May and also involves four other vegetables, including aubergines, courgettes and colocasia, was reached in March following the detection in 207 Indian consignments of diseased fruit and parasites that could threaten European flora.
In order to lift the embargo, the EU expects India to step up inspections of its exports to ensure that they meet European phytosanitary conditions. The Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) will travel to India at the end of the year to check proper implementation of these measures. The EU will then decide whether the embargo should be lifted, stated the Commission.
The Commission points out that the proscribed (Mangiefra) mango and other products denied entry to the European market account for less than 5% of all Indian fruit and vegetables imported into the EU. The agency responsible for promoting Indian exports criticised the embargo on Tuesday, just before it entered into force. It said that it was unjustified and noted that the ban had irritated British importers.
Indian Trade Minister Anand Sharma said that he had written a letter to European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht, asking him to revise this “arbitrary” decision to impose an embargo on Indian fruit and vegetables. (LC)