European Union threatens to ban import of Indian fruit, vegetables

India’s agri commodity exports are under threat in major global markets over non-adherence to quality specifications prescribed by key international agencies. In less than three months of the current calendar year, India has received its second warning note.

After Australia issued a serious advisory to Indian exporters over deteriorating quality of milk and its derivatives a few weeks ago, the European Union (EU) has now warned India over the poor quality of its fresh fruits and vegetables. Late last year, Saudi Arabia had threatened to ban Indian fresh fruits and vegetables, following which Indian exporters had adopted quality
norms prevailing in the global market.

As recently as March 14, export promotion body, the Agricultural Produce Export Development Authority (Apeda), had issued an advisory to Indian fresh fruit and vegetable exporters to adhere to global quality norms.

“The EU has raised serious concerns regarding the interception of harmful organisms in fresh fruits and vegetables
exported to the European region. The EU has also threatened to take stern action (including a ban) unless the situation
improves. We have assured the EU that India is fully committed to providing safe and pest-free exports of fresh fruits
and vegetables to the EU and all necessary steps are begin taken in this direction,” said B K Boyal, director of

Apeda in its advisory.

India has steadily increased its fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the EU in the past three years. From the level of Rs 129 crore worth of shipments in 2010-11, India’s exports of fresh fruits and vegetables shot up sharply to Rs 165 crore in the financial year 2012-13. But, India is estimated to surpass Rs 200 crore during the current financial year in terms of fresh fruit and vegetable exports.

The warning from the EU has come at a time when India is looking to increase its exports all-round to raise foreign currency
income and reduce the current account deficit.

“India has committed that effective April 1, 2014, all exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to the EU would be routed through Apedaapproved pack houses wherein inspections, examinations/testing of export consignments will be conducted under the supervision of plant quarantine personnel,” Boyal said.

Indian exporters have already received such warnings in the past over its groundnut and sesame seed exports to the EU.
“As on date, we have no information on any export ban on our grapes to the EU,” said Ashok Sharma, chief
executive, Mahindra and Mahindra Agri and Allied Business.

Apeda, according to an official, has already conducted extensive sensitisation programmes to apprise the trade about the impending scenario. The authority has, therefore, warned that exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to the EU would be

routed only through the pack houses recognised by it.

“Though the quantity of exports is not big enough to worry, the threat will percolate to other markets, which would have a negative impact on India’s overall agri exports,” said the official.