European Union bans Indian mangoes, four vegetables from May 1

With effect from May 1, the 28-member European Union has decided to temporarily ban the import of Alphonso mangoes and four vegetables from India, raising protests from the Indian community, lawmakers and traders. The temporary ban, proposed by the European Commission, includes mangoes, eggplant, the taro plant, bitter gourd and snake gourd. This step has been taken after 207 consignments of fruits and vegetables from India imported into the EU in 2013 were found to be contaminated by pests such as fruit flies and other quarantine pests. The ban prohibits the import to tackle the significant shortcomings in the phytosanitary certification system of such products exported to the EU. A revision of the ban will take place before December 31, 2015. Though, the prohibited commodities represent less than 5% of the total fresh fruits and vegetables imported into the EU from India, the potential introduction of new pests could pose a threat to EU agriculture and production. UK’s Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) that is backing the ban stated that it was necessary due to pests which could threaten the country’s 321 million pound salad crop industry of tomato and cucumber.