Question : Ban on Agro Products from India

(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?

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. 1st 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:

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

(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.
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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