Alphonso Mangoes get green signal from European union, 20 January 2015
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Alphonso Mangoes get green signal from European union, 20 January 2015 - Video
London: The European Union on Tuesday decided to lift a ban on the import of mangoes from India after it made significant improvements in plant health controls and certification system, clearing the way for them to return to the 28-member bloc by March.
However, the prohibition on the import of vegetables from India will be reviewed at later stage after collecting more evidence, the EU said in a statement.
A European Commission committee meeting in Brussels voted to lift the ban on mangoes on Tuesday. "A proposal by the Commission to lift the import ban of mango fruits from India was today endorsed by Member State experts meeting at the relevant Regulatory Committee concerned with Plant Health," the statement said.
A European Commission committee voted to lift the ban on Tuesday. The legislation now needs to be formally adopted and published by the European Commission.
"An audit carried out by the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office in India in September 2014 showed significant improvements in the phytosanitary export certification system.
The European Union's "temporary ban" came into force on May 1, 2014 and was to remain effective until December 2015 after authorities in Brussels found consignments infested with fruit flies that they feared could damage European salad crops.
After Tuesday's vote, the EU said, "India has also provided assurances that appropriate measures are now available to ensure that the exports of mango fruits are free from quarantine pest, like the fruit flies not known to occur in the Union.
"The measures will allow the import of mango fruits before the start of the next import season in March 2015," the statement said. The legislation now needs to be formally adopted and published by the European Commission.
This will take around a month, but the positive vote by the Committee gives certainty to Indian exporters and UK importers about the position for the forthcoming mango season. The EU accounts for more than 50 per cent of total exports of fruits and vegetables from India.
The UK is the main destination, followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Welcoming the decision, British High Commissioner in India James Bevan said: "This is great news for the UK-India and EU-India trade relationship and especially for Indian exporters and UK consumers.
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European Union lifts ban on import of Indian mangoes
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The European Union has agreed to lift a seven-month-old import ban on mangoes from India, the world's biggest producer of the tropical fruit, after an audit by the 28-nation bloc showed significant quality improvements.
The EU blocked shipments of Alphonso mangoes, the premium, pulpy variety, from May 2014 until December 2015 after authorities found consignments infested with fruit flies.
But in its September audit, EU's Food and Veterinary Office found "significant improvements" in quality.
India assured the EU it would put in place measures to ensure cargoes are free from pests, the European Commission said in a statement.
Britain, which worked with India to help New Delhi meet the EU's import norms, welcomed the move.
"The EU ban was due to remain until December 2015 but today's vote shows that the hard work of the Indian authorities has paid off," Britain's Environment Minister Lord de Mauley said in a statement.
Although Europe is not a major market for Indian mangoes, any ban typically weighs on prices, hitting farmers' incomes.
The Middle East buys 80 percent of mango exports from India, which accounts for about half of global output.
Other major producers include China, Thailand, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria and Egypt. (Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj, editing by David Evans)
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European Union agrees to lift import ban on Indian mangoes
He added: "There has always been a minority of the population who emotionally regard themselves as being British but not European. But this feeling fades with each generation. Each successive generation regards itself as more European than its predecessor. Whereas my generation put on its knapsack and went to Brighton for the weekend, the modern generation puts on its knapsack and goes around the world.
"We also have a political party, UKIP, that is dedicated to taking us out of Europe. But make no mistake: UKIP does not represent the majority of the British population. Present the people with the broader arguments and they will be persuaded that staying within the EU is in our best interest. But we have to have some indication that Britain and Europe can find agreement on difficult issues and thats what the renegotiations are going to be all about."
He insisted that the European Union will be able to reform freedom of movement because Britain has "more [immigration] than we can cope with".
Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has suggested she would rather see Britain leave the EU than change the principle of freedom of movement within the European Union.
But Sir John said that other founding freedoms of the European Union have not been fully honoured, including the single market and free movement of goods.
He said: "So are we to be told by our European friends that free movement of people is sacrosanct, it is a founding element of the European Union and it cannot even be constrained at a time of emergency, and yet all of the other things we signed up to in 1973 and enshrined in legislation in 1987 cannot be finished."
He said: "Geographically, we are a small nation. And we welcome people who comes and bring skills to our country we think it is flattering to our country that they come.
"But they are coming in such large numbers that we cannot cope with their housing, their welfare, their social security.
"Very few of the eastern Europeans who come to us are benefit tourists. They come to the UK to work."
He said that if Europe was commit to its founding principles it would "cut the British argument about Freedom of Movement at the knees".
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Sir John Major: Britain is becoming more European and will not heed Ukip
LONDON: After a gap of almost 20 months, India and European Union are likely to resume talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) to boost commerce and investment.
"We are keen and hopeful that at the next meeting (of India-EU FTA) there will be a positive result," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here at the 10th UK India Joint Economic Trade committee (JETCO) meeting here yesterday.
However, she did not elaborate on the date for the next meeting.
Last time in May 2013, both sides failed to bridge substantial gaps on crucial issues, including data security status for IT sector.
Launched in June 2007, the negotiations for the proposed Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) between India and the 27-nation European bloc has witnessed many hurdles with both sides having major differences on crucial issues.
The two sides are yet to iron out issues related to tariffs and movement of professionals but the EU has shown an inclination to restart talks.
Further, Sitharaman said there will not be retrospective taxation.
"The government is committed....We want to provide simplified tax rule," she said, adding India is the place to do business as the country has been witnessing GDP growth of over 5 per cent.
Referring to the World Bank report on Ease of Doing Business, the Indian Minister said, "the assessment was based on period before May 2014. We have taken enough steps, made cutting edge decisions...the Modi government has removed the number of hurdles. More than 40 rules have been amended during the last eight months."
India has been ranked at 142nd in this regard by the report.
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India, European Union may resume FTA talks