EU lifts ban on Indian mangoes

The European Commission has lifted the ban on imports of Indian mangoes in the run up to the export season. The decision was endorsed today by Member State experts meeting at a Regulatory Committee concerned with Plant Health.

The import of certain fruit and vegetables, taro, eddo, mango, bitter gourd, eggplant and snake gourd from India was prohibited last April due to a high number of consignments intercepted at arrival in the EU infested with quarantine pests.

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. 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 mangoes before the start of the next import season in March 2015. At later stage, when more evidence is collected regarding the Indian phytosanitary certification, the prohibition of the vegetables will be reviewed.

UK's Fresh Produce Consortium commented, "We are delighted that the Commission has responded to FPC lobbying and control measures by the Indian authorities and acted to lift the ban on Indian mangoes in time for the next UK import season. We hope to see future lifting of the ban on other products soon."