No signs of pests in imported US apples: Govt
There are no reports of interception of any quarantine pests from the imported apple consignments from the US nor any non-compliance of Indian plant quarantine regulations.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday debunked reports that apples imported from the US were suspected of carrying around 100 pests, saying that the fruit contained no quarantine pests.
"There are no reports of interception of any quarantine pests from the imported apple consignments from the US nor any non-compliance of Indian plant quarantine regulations," an official statement said.
The statement followed after reports from Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau International (CABI), a UK-based organisation, said that it had listed 184 pests occurring on apples grown in the US. Of the 184 pets, 94 pests may require phytosanitary measures, which are aimed at protecting against risks linked to food safety if the apples are to be imported to India.
"In case of apple import, the pests and disease that are likely to be carried by the fruit will alone be quarantine concern to us. If any pest and disease, even if affecting the apple gardens or other parts of the plant, if it does not affect the fruit, then such pests may not be having chance of entry into India through import of apples," the government release said.
There is certainly a need for improving quarantine programmes, particularly with regard to imports, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Director S Dave had told agencies.
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture W R Reddy had admitted that it was the first time that such an instance of allegedly infected apples imported from the US had been brought to their notice.
"There are no reports of interception of any quarantine pests from the imported apple consignments from the US nor any non-compliance of Indian plant quarantine regulations," an official statement said.
The statement followed after reports from Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau International (CABI), a UK-based organisation, said that it had listed 184 pests occurring on apples grown in the US. Of the 184 pets, 94 pests may require phytosanitary measures, which are aimed at protecting against risks linked to food safety if the apples are to be imported to India.
"In case of apple import, the pests and disease that are likely to be carried by the fruit will alone be quarantine concern to us. If any pest and disease, even if affecting the apple gardens or other parts of the plant, if it does not affect the fruit, then such pests may not be having chance of entry into India through import of apples," the government release said.
There is certainly a need for improving quarantine programmes, particularly with regard to imports, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Director S Dave had told agencies.
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture W R Reddy had admitted that it was the first time that such an instance of allegedly infected apples imported from the US had been brought to their notice.
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