From Russia to New Zealand, Indian fruits face entry barriers

NEW DELHI: Some Indian fruits and vegetables have been banned in countries such as China, the US and Japan, while Russia has prohibited the entry of all such items due to hygienic and other reasons, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

While Russia has banned all fruits from India, China does not allow import of 14 fruits and vegetables, including guava, watermelons, musk melon, papayas, pomegranate and custard apple, industry and commerce minister Kamal Nath informed the lower house of Parliament.

The US does not allow import of pomegranate due to quarantine requirements and had banned mangoes till March 2007 due to the absence of phyto-sanitary protocol, Mr Nath said. Japan banned the import of mangoes and grapes due to alleged presence of fruit flies and stone weevil, he added. Australia and New Zealand denied market access to Indian mangoes due to presence of fruit flies and stone weevil, the minister said. He, however, said the government had taken up the matter with the respective governments.

���This is at various stages of negotiations and discussions,��� he said. While the Chinese government has sought time to initiate test-risk analysis for fruits and vegetables, a delegation from the Quarantine Authority of Australia will visit India in April to inspect mango facilities, the minister said.

India has requested the US for mitigative methods for import of pomegranate, while the Japanese government has sought the result of a survey conducted by National Research Centre in western and southern regions. The matter has also been taken up with Russia, he added.