Taking steps to get EU ban on Indian vegetables lifted: Govt

The government today said it is taking all diplomatic steps to help get the European Union ban on four Indian vegetables lifted and is taking up the issue at appropriate forums.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman said she had taken up the issue with EU officials and had also discussed with various European nations including the United Kingdom during her recent visit to London.
"India is taking all diplomatic steps to address the issue of getting the EU ban lifted on some Indian vegetables. It has also taken up the issue at appropriate forums.
"I had a fruitful and good meeting with UK's Secretary of State for Business Vince Cable, who deals with EU matters and has assured me of supporting India's case in lifting the ban on export of four Indian vegetables to EU," Sitharaman said.

The statement comes two days after the EU lifted the ban on export of Indian mangoes to countries under its fold after conducting farm inspections in India.
Besides mangoes, the EU has imposed a ban on import of Indian vegetables like bitter gourd, snake gourd, aubergines and colocasia/taro leaves.

India has been exporting fresh fruits and vegetables, prominent among them being mangoes, to countries of the European Union.
In May 2014, a ban was imposed by the European Commission on imports of mangoes, bitter gourd, egg plant, snake gourd and taro leaves from India on grounds of interceptions of harmful organisms leading to fears on account of bio-security of the region.

The decision led to adverse impact on farmers and exporters in India.
The European Commission after conducting field surveys and audit in its meeting in Brussels on January 20 had decided to lift the ban on import of mangoes from India.