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The European Union today defended the ban it has imposed on Alphonso mangoes but said it was open to reviewing the decision if all issues related to quality control are addressed even as it dubbed the controversy over its move "a fallout of electoral politics".

"The situation is very simple. A bunch of files regarding problems relating to quality control of the fruit were found during the inspection by a team that had come in 2010 to check the export process. So warnings were issued.

"In, 2013 a regular follow-up inspection was carried out and they were told to put in some mechanism in next 6-8 months but that did not happen till this February," European Union envoy Joao Cravinho said here.

Cravinho was addressing an event on 'business opportunities in the EU', organised by the industry lobby group All-India Association of Industries.

He, however, was quick to add that "the EU does not want to ban Indian mangoes. This is a temporary ban and I expect there will be a revision of the situation in 2015. But there can be a review of the situation before that as well if the changes are put in place."

Cravinho said the controversy following the ban was outcome of general elections in India and the EU Parliamentary polls.

"The controversy surrounding the ban has more to do with politics than the trade. 90 per cent of the controversy is related to the fact that you are in the election mode here. The European Parliament elections have also played some role," Cravinho said.

He said the ban was not a big issue in Europe, which imports most of the mangoes from Africa and the US.

The 28-member EU had slapped a temporary ban on imports of Alphonso variety and four vegetables from the country on May 1, sparking protests from the government and traders.

He also ruled out any impact of mango ban on now-stalled FTA talks with the European Union.

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EU Envoy Defends Alphonso Ban, Dubs It 'Political Issue'

Expressing confidence that the new government will spur the growth and investment in the country, European Union on Thursday said nothing damaged India's reputation more than the retrospective tax legislation (now deferred for two years).

"Nothing has been damaging India's reputation as much as the retrospective tax law. I believe in the near future a new government will deal with this problem," European Union envoy Joao Cravinho said at an event here.

Stating that while it is not yet clear which political formation will occupy the South Block, the envoy said he is confident that the new government will take measures to revive the economy.

"We don't have the crystal ball, we don't know what the new government will look like, but one thing I can tell you for sure is that whatever the government looks like it will say very early on that it wants to promote growth, employment and foreign direct investments....It wants the country to return to the level of growth it has achieved recently or in the past years," he said.

The measures that the new government can take will change the mood and the atmosphere and signal to Europe and around the world that India is interested in business and attracting the business, he said.

"There are a few other low-hanging fruits that a new government can pluck to change the mood and give a clear signal that it would like to attract investments. And if it does that I believe the investments will be forthcoming quite easily," he said.

He said the EU thinks that there are very good possibilities for the European companies to increase their investments here.

Cravinho also said India will be an important partner for the European Union even as it expects better economic future for the home economies.

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Retrospective tax damaged India's reputation most: European Union

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