Brussels, 20/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - A proposal by the Commission to lift the import ban of mango fruits from India was endorsed on Tuesday 20 January by Member State experts meeting at the relevant Regulatory Committee concerned with Plant Health.
The embargo on Indian mangoes also affects four other plant species of aubergine, gourd and colocasia and was decided in March 2014, after detecting 207 Indian cargoes containing products contaminated by disease and parasites that could pose a threat to European flora (see EUROPE 11072).
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. 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 Mangiefra species of mango and the other products banned from entering the EU market represent less than 5% of total fruit and vegetables imported from India by the EU. (LC)