Lok Sabha Question No. 90 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Ban on Agro Products from India
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 90 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2016

## BAN ON AGRO PRODUCTS FROM INDIA

## 90. SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI B.V. NAIK

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the names of the countries and the types of agro products banned for import from India during the last three years along with the reasons for banning agro products;
- (b) the crop-wise details of time span of the said ban and the names of the agro products on which the ban still continues;
- (c) the details of the losses incurred by Indian farmers due to ban;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any action to lift the said ban on agro products from India; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  extent  to  which  these  actions  have  been beneficial?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) During the last three years, following bans were imposed on Indian agricultural products:
- i. The  European  Union  (EU)  imposed  a  temporary  ban  on  import  of  four vegetables  (Brinjal,  Snake  Gourd,  Bitter  Gourd  and  Taro  Leaves)  and mangoes  from  India  w.e.f.  1 st May,  2014  as  export  consignments  were intercepted with harmful organisms (pests) such as thrips.
- ii. Saudi Arabia imposed a ban on import of green chillies from India w.e.f. 30th May  2014  due  to  detection  of  agrochemicals  i.e.  pesticides  above  the maximum residue limits.
- iii. Vietnam imposed a temporary restriction on import of groundnuts from India w.e.f.  6th  April  2015  due  to  detection  of  Caryedon  Serratus  Olivier  (living pest).
- (b) The crop-wise details of time span of the said ban and the names of the agro products on which the ban still continues are as under:
- (c) It is not feasible to quantify the losses suffered by the farmers due to a such bans as alternative avenues for disposal of the produce, both domestic and international, are always available.
- (d & (e) An EU Food & Veterinary Office (FVO) Mission visited India on September 2-12, 2014 to assess and audit the export certification for export of vegetables from India to the  EU.  FVO  Mission  expressed  their  satisfaction  over  the  system  put  in  place  by India  for  export  of  Mangoes  and  hence  the  ban  on  import  of  Mangoes  was subsequently lifted. The Agricultural &  Processed  Food  Export  Development Authority (APEDA), an autonomous organisation under the Department of Commerce,  has  taken  up  the  issue  of  ban  on  exports  of  four  vegetables  with  EU authorities through Ministry of Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (MoA&FW). MOA&FW has sent a detailed action plan to address the concerns raised by EU and requested them to lift the ban. This issue has also been flagged by the Department of Commerce in various bilateral meetings between India and EU from time to time.

| Products     | Country        | Date of ban imposed   | Date of ban removed   |
|--------------|----------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| Mangoes      | European Union | 01/05/2014            | 05/02/2015            |
| Vegetables   | European Union | 01/05/2014            | Still exists          |
| Green Chilly | Saudi Arabia   | 30/05/2014            | 07/01/2016            |
| Peanut       | Vietnam        | 06/04/2015            | 18/01/2016            |

A delegation comprising of representatives of Ministry of Agriculture, Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia  visited  India  from  23.10.2015  to  30.10.2015.  The  delegation  visited APEDA approved packhouses, laboratory, National Referral Laboratory at Pune, and green chillies farms at Nashik.

The National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has introduced a mandatory Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for  export  of  groundnuts  to  Vietnam.  A  delegation  from  Vietnam  visited  India  in December 2015 to conduct onsite inspections.

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